Lu Shaye (NI YANSHUO)

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is considered the driving force behind the all-around development of Sino-African relations, as it sets to promote political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchanges, said Lu Shaye, Director General of the Department of African Affairs of the Foreign Ministry. According to him, the Fifth FOCAC Ministerial Conference, to be held in Beijing on July 19-20, will focus on financial issues, Africa's integration, security and people-to-people contacts. In a written interview with ChinAfrica, Lu discussed the goals of FOCAC and the future of Sino-African relations.

ChinAfrica: What topics will this year's Fifth Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC focus on?

Lu Shaye: The Fifth Ministerial Conference of FOCAC is the first such conference held in the second decade since its founding in 2000. This conference is of great significance in terms of further strengthening China-Africa unity and cooperation, and promoting and guiding the future development of Sino-African relations.

At this conference, participants will review the development of Sino-African relations in the past 12 years of FOCAC since its inception, evaluate consequential activities in the past three years after the Fourth FOCAC Ministerial Conference in 2009, and discuss plans for cooperation in the next three years.

FOCAC stresses both political and economic sectors through government and people-to-people channels. Thus, the conference will also feature side meetings: The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and China NGO Network for International Exchanges will hold the Fourth Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs and the Second China-Africa People's Forum in Beijing and Suzhou (Jiangsu Province), respectively, in mid-July.

What sectors will FOCAC focus on in the next three years?

After reviewing FOCAC's past development, we can say that FOCAC is the engine driving the development of Sino-African relations in all facets. FOCAC promotes the multi-level and wide-coverage development pattern in all sectors of Sino-African cooperation and strengthens the new type of strategic partnership between China and Africa.

Following the excellent traditions of the previous FOCAC ministerial conferences and Beijing Summit, we will not only plan and strengthen exchanges in areas such as politics, economy, development and culture, but we will also focus on important areas with our unique characteristics. While continuing efforts to promote pragmatic cooperation in economic and trade sectors, greater attention will be given to the political and cultural exchanges between our two sides. Therefore, at this year's  conference, China will actively consider putting forward new measures for cooperation in such important areas as development, investment and financing, Africa integration, security and people-to-people contact.

Since FOCAC's establishment 12 years ago, China-Africa relations have greatly developed. What has FOCAC done to restructure itself accordingly? 

After its establishment in 2000, FOCAC has developed into an important platform to promote Sino-African relations, as well as a brilliant brand of Africa-related international cooperation. During this process, FOCAC has become increasingly mature.

First, the FOCAC mechanism has become more effective. It has enabled many opportunities for Sino-African dialogues at different levels. These include the ministerial conference and political consultations between foreign ministers of China and African countries at the UN Assembly and the senior officials meeting. Last year, the African Union was officially admitted into FOCAC, making way for greater African representation.

Next, we provided a wide diversity of talking points. FOCAC now holds the Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs and sub-forums in areas such as agriculture, culture, think tanks, NGOs and finance.

Finally, FOCAC has taken scientific and long-term measures to increase its influence. Chinese President Hu Jintao announced the eight measures for practical Sino-African cooperation at the FOCAC Beijing Summit in 2006, and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao put forward the eight new measures at the Fourth FOCAC Ministerial Conference in Egypt in 2009 to meet African demands. These measures aim to promote win-win development and lift the levels of China-Africa pragmatic cooperation.

Would you talk about the measures proposed by Premier Wen Jiabao in 2009? Have all the measures been implemented?

In the past three years, China has diligently kept its commitments to Africa despite the challenges from the global financial crisis. All the commitments listed by Premier Wen have been fully honored.

Thanks to joint efforts from both China and countries in Africa, the eight new measures were implemented smoothly and have achieved positive results. The China-Africa Science and Technology Partnership Program and another partnership program established to cope with climate changes are progressing smoothly. Debt exemption, tariff cuts, preferential loans and the special loans for the development of African SMEs are being implemented. Training programs for Africans in areas such as science and technology, agriculture, education and health have been fully carried out.

At the coming Fifth FOCAC Ministerial Conference, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Minister of Commerce Chen Deming will discuss in detail the follow-up activities of the Fourth FOCAC Ministerial Conference, including the implementation of these eight measures.

(Read more details at www.chinafrica.cn)