The Belt and Road Initiative has strengthened China-Africa cooperation in various fields after it was put forward in 2013. A large number of projects have been completed or are under construction in African countries, especially since the First Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing in 2017.

Recently, some ambassadors talked to ChinAfrica, sharing their views on the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of China-Africa cooperation. Excerpts of their views follow:

Elia G. Kaiyamo 

Namibian Ambassador to China 

At the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in September last year, China put forward eight major initiatives to boost China-Africa cooperation and earmarked $60 billion to back the cooperation. As for Namibia, we need more cooperation in infrastructure construction.

Infrastructure is very important, because we learn from the philosophy of the Belt and Road Initiative that connectivity is vital for development. We can connect our people, our neighbors and other countries in the region. Now we are planning to build an airport with the help from China. It's a part of our agreement.

The Namibia-China relationship is at the stage of constructive engagement, or partnership. It brings us opportunities to further our cooperation.

For now, Namibia-China tourism cooperation is going on well. Our students are coming to study in China. Namibia is expecting agreements with China in more cooperation fields. Thus, Namibia is learning much from China and our relationship is growing.

I want to mention that the biggest investment of China in Africa is in Namibia: Husab Mine. So, in terms of Namibia-China cooperation, we want to make sure that Namibia has a key harbor in the region, and China has helped build the harbor in Walvis Bay, which we can now use to trade with other African countries. The harbor can also serve Angola, the Republic of the Congo, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Botswana, Zambia, and other countries in the region.

Mbelwa Kairuki 

Tanzanian Ambassador to China 

Tanzania has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China to support the Belt and Road Initiative. We have been engaged in different infrastructure projects that feed into the initiative. Over the last two years, we have been upgrading the Port of Dar es Salaam by building two new berths and modernizing seven berths. This project will promote trade with other countries along the Belt and Road routes, and will provide access to the port for landlocked countries like Malawi, Zambia and Uganda.

Another project that we are implementing is the construction of a railway that would go all the way to Rwanda and Burundi. This will also provide access to the port for these two countries. Also, we understand that electricity is the key component of development, so we are implementing several power projects. Our priority is a hydroelectric power dam with an installed capacity of 2,000 mw, called Stiegler's Gorge. These projects are linked to the Belt and Road Initiative. The Belt and Road Initiative is about connectivity - connectivity with the people and connectivity with infrastructure. An example of this connectivity is tourism - one of our main sources of revenue - and we are targeting China as a source of tourists.

Later this year, we are going to start direct flights between Tanzania and China. We hope more Chinese people will get to know about the opportunities and beauty of Tanzania and visit the country. By connecting people of China and Tanzania, our hope is that the Chinese tourists will visit our country and their spending will contribute to our economy.

Hu Changchun 

Chinese Ambassador to Gabon 

China and Gabon signed an MoU at the FOCAC Beijing Summit held in September 2018, where Chinese President Xi Jinping suggested building an even stronger China-Africa community with a shared future and announced the eight initiatives to further strengthen China-Africa cooperation. Under this framework, China and Gabon are working together to implement the consensus of the heads of state and the outcome of the FOCAC Beijing Summit by forging closer connectivity in policy, infrastructure, trade, finance and people-to-people ties.

In terms of policy, the two countries established a mechanism to implement the eight initiatives immediately after the summit. A system for internal coordination and bilateral communication has been put in place, and the first cooperation projects have been identified for implementation.

In terms of infrastructure, the Port Gentil-Omboue Highway, which is being built by Chinese enterprises, will be completed on schedule within this year. Another highway for Port Gentil is being built, and some new roads, bridges, ports, and power generation and transmission projects are being discussed. In terms of trade, Gabon participated in the First China International Import Expo (CIIE) in November 2018. It was among the African countries that rented the largest exhibition space in the expo. It is now preparing to participate in the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo to be held in June and the Second CIIE to be held in November.

As for financing, China's financial institutions have been providing financial support for highway and vocational education center projects implemented by Chinese enterprises. The China-Africa Development Fund has invested in timber processing projects. Recently, Gabon has proposed a number of new cooperation projects related to ports, power plants and roads.

As far as people-to-people exchanges are concerned, apart from the abovementioned activities, we must also mention the Chinese Medical Team, which has seen 412 doctors visit Gabon in 20 missions since 1977, providing medical services for more than 300,000 patients. In addition, a number of new cooperation projects related to healthcare, education, training, study abroad and agriculture are to be implemented.

At the FOCAC Beijing Summit, President Xi said that China is willing to work with Africa under the Belt and Road Initiative. He suggested that China and Africa should seize the opportunity created by the complementarity between their respective development strategies and avail the major opportunities presented by the Belt and Road Initiative. He believed that the Belt and Road Initiative and the AU Agenda 2063, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the deve­lopment programs of African countries can better complement each other.

The Belt and Road Initiative has received broad approval in Gabon. Since the signing of the MoU, a number of Belt and Road seminars have been held, which were attended by Gabon's government officials, think-tank scholars, entrepreneurs, media reporters, and people from other walks of life. They joined the discussion on how to align Gabon's development strategy with the Belt and Road Initiative.

I believe that the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will further expand the influence of the Belt and Road Initiative in Africa. With the possibility of favorable initiatives brought about by this forum, we are expecting accelerated China-Africa cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and further progress in the comprehensive cooperative partnership between the two countries.

(Comments to niyanshuo@chinafrica.cn)