Cape Town -The Chinese ambassador to South Africa on Thursday said the relationship between Africa and China would feature in the history books as an important factor in international relations.
“The Chinese and African relationship is an active and dynamic factor in international relations and will become an extraordinary part of 21st century history,” said Tian Xuejan, speaking at the China-Africa Colloquium at the University of Cape Town.
The colloquium was hosted during the year of China in South Africa and shortly before the anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of the African Union on May 25 (known as Africa Day), which Xuejan said was the perfect time to do so.
Xuejan said Africa was a place of hope and that the continent and China’s relationship had strengthened over centuries.
“We fought together to fight colonialism and imperialism and our relations are based on values of sincere friendship and good faith,” said Xuejan.
Going forward, Xuejan said China would, over the next three years, focus on industrialisation, health cooperation, and peace and security cooperation in Africa.
Xuejan concluded his address saying both Africa and China should be on the alert for “malicious” talk that aimed to hamper relations.
“Inevitably, we will encounter problems but these are just growing pains,” said Xuejan, “We should speak in one voice in order to tell the good stories of our cooperation and relations”.
ANA