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South African National Assembly House Chairperson: Committees hails the achievements of FOCAC and discusses the driving forces behind China-Africa cooperation at a webinar marking the 20th anniversary of the establishment of FOCAC
Hu Fan Web Exclusive ·2020-11-06
Cedric Thomas Frolick, South African National Assembly House Chairperson: Committees, speaks at the webinar

The consensus under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on building a community with a shared future, jointly implementing the Belt and Road Initiative and boosting production capacity in Africa through China-Africa pilot projects has transformed China-Africa relations, pushing China-Africa cooperation into a new era, said Cedric Thomas Frolick, South African National Assembly House Chairperson: Committees, at a webinar to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of FOCAC on October 28. 

With the theme of 20 Years of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation: Prospects and Perspectives, the webinar was hosted by BEIJING REVIEW, a media outlet under China International Publishing Group. Officials and media professionals from China and African countries reviewed the important role of FOCAC in promoting China-Africa cooperation in all fields in the past two decades, and offered suggestions on the future development of China-Africa cooperation. 

Strong drivers 

Frolick hailed the thriving Africa-China cooperation under the framework of FOCAC despite the globally raging COVID-19. 

"FOCAC is a strong testimony to the close, resilient friendship between Africa and China," he said. 

He stressed that the long and deep friendship between China and Africa is one of the important driving forces behind the fruitful achievements of FOCAC over the past decades.  

"Africa’s relations with China can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty of China (1368-1644), when Chinese great navigator Zheng He led his fleets and reached the eastern coast of Africa. He didn't bring with him guns to loot African countries like Western colonizers. Rather, he brought with him silk, tea and other Chinese goods to show China’s goodwill to African countries," he said. 

Frolick then recalled how the China-Africa friendship continued after the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, and stressed that China has been standing with Africa, especially during the process of African countries fighting for their sovereignty and independence. 

"The two sides have fought together for national independence and liberation, shared weal and woe, supported each other and have become each other's trusted good friend. Together, China and Africa have embarked on a distinctive path of win-win cooperation," he said. 

Frolick also stressed the importance of mutually beneficial economic cooperation on equal footing, calling Africa and China natural partners with complimentary economies.  

"In the new era, China and African countries have increased their win-win cooperation, as China has funds, advanced technologies and professionals, while Africa has a big market and need China's investment and technology transfer," he said. 

He also emphasized the pivotal role of political mutual trust between China and African countries, saying that the trust is the basis for developing healthy Africa-China cooperation.  

Broadening  cooperation 

Frolick noted the trend that local governments in China have also strengthened cooperation with African countries besides the connections between central governments of China and African countries, and especially mentioned Hunan in central China as an example.  

"The province holds a handful of Africa-related events every year. Last year, the first China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo was held in Changsha. The expo, announced at FOCAC in September 2018, was established to provide a platform for deepening economic and trade cooperation between the two sides. A total of 84 deals worth $20.8 billion were reached in trade, agriculture, tourism and other fields during the event," he said. 

He encouraged more African businesspeople to attend the expo to sell more African goods to the Chinese market. He also mentioned China's plan to establish three new pilot free trade zones, including one in Hunan Province, and believed it will boost Hunan’s cooperation with African countries. 

Frolick expects the new FOCAC session to be held in Senegal next year to see more and pragmatic new measures to further boost Africa-China cooperation, and wants to see more efforts in cooperation in poverty alleviation.  

"Poverty alleviation is a great task and should be the center of the work of all African governments. Only by lifting all people out of poverty can we ensure people’s wellbeing. I believe the Chinese model of poverty eradication is a good source of inspiration for African countries," he noted. 

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