Advancing Dialogue among Civilizations and Developing Friendly Cooperation
——Yang Jiechi talks about Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to Egypt and attendance of the Fourth FOCAC Ministerial Conference

Premier Wen Jiabao paid an official visit to Egypt and attended the opening ceremony of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt from November 6 to 8, 2009. At the end of the visit, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi who accompanied Wen during the visit introduced to the accompanying journalists the outcome of Premier Wen’s visit.

Yang said that the world today is undergoing major development, major changes and major adjustments. Developing countries including African and Arab countries have achieved relatively fast economic growth in recent years and enjoy ever rising overall strength and international status. However, they are still plagued by hunger, poverty, diseases and war chaos and face the severe challenge of international financial crisis. African and Arab countries have strong desire of building peace, seeking development and promoting cooperation and share common aspiration of mutual respect, equal treatment and establishment of a just and rational new international order.

He said that China is the biggest developing country and to consolidate and develop unity and cooperation with other developing countries is the cornerstone of Chinese foreign policy. China is committed to strengthening friendly cooperation with African and Arab countries, maintaining common interest and realizing common development. This year marks the last year of implementing the measures announced at FOCAC Beijing Summit and the 10th anniversary of China-Egypt strategic cooperative relations. Premier Wen’s visit demonstrates the importance China attaches to its relations with Africa, Arab countries and Egypt and shows the desire and determination of China and African and Arab countries to deepen cooperation and overcome difficulties. Within a short period of two and half days, Premier Wen attended more than 30 activities and contacted extensively national leaders and people from all walks of life of African and Arab countries in order to consolidate friendship, discuss cooperation and seek common development. He put forward a series of important initiatives and new measures. It is a meaningful tour of dialogue among civilizations and a fruitful trip of friendly cooperation.

I. Open a New Chapter of Friendly Cooperation between China and Africa

Yang noted that China and Africa always share sympathy and support and help each other. Entering the new century, the two sides initiated FOCAC which has become a banner guiding China-Africa friendship under new circumstances, a major platform for China-Africa collective dialogue and an effective mechanism of China-Africa pragmatic cooperation. At the FOCAC Beijing Summit which was held successfully in 2006, the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership featuring political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchanges was established and President Hu Jintao, on behalf of the Chinese government, announced eight measures of strengthening China-Africa cooperation and supporting Africa’s development. With the joint efforts of both sides, those commitments will be fulfilled completely by the end of this year. The purpose of the Ministerial Conference was summing up experience, reviewing achievements and planning for the future. There were altogether 50 senior delegations of member states attending the Conference, including nearly 20 African national leaders.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Premier Wen comprehensively reviewed the new achievements of China-Africa cooperation since the Beijing Summit and proved with facts and numbers that China-Africa cooperation is equal, mutually beneficial and pragmatic. China-Africa relations have withstood the test of international vicissitudes and maintained the momentum of vigorous development because the two sides share weal and woe and mutual support, which is the foundation of bilateral relations; they respect each other and treat each other equally, which is the core of bilateral relations; they enjoy mutually beneficial cooperation and seek common development, which is key to bilateral relations. Premier Wen pointed out the development direction and priority areas of China-Africa cooperation under new situation and declared eight new measures of cooperation with Africa, covering agriculture, environmental protection, investment promotion, debt relief, market access expansion, coping with climate change, medical care and education. Focusing on improving people’s livelihood, agricultural development and infrastructure construction and enhancing the self-development capacity of African countries, the measures aim at meeting the immediate needs of African countries, solving their real difficulties and overcoming the international financial crisis and at the same time address their long-term interest of realizing sustainable development, which laid down a solid foundation for the development of friendly and cooperative relations between China and Africa. Premier Wen also appealed to the international community to pay greater attention to Africa’s problems and tangibly implement the Millennium Development Goals.

The eight new measures of cooperation with Africa announced by Premier Wen received enthusiastic response from African countries. Participating leaders unanimously spoke highly of the traditional friendship between China and Africa. They indicated that China is firmly committed to supporting and helping Africa to realize peace and development despite of various challenges and remains a sincere friend and partner. China-Africa cooperation is a successful example of South-South cooperation. African countries are willing to join hands with China to create a promising future for Africa-China relations.

Yang said that Premier Wen held meetings with many African national leaders and reached new consensuses on reinforcing bilateral and China-Africa cooperation during the Conference. African leaders reiterated their will to continuously support China’s core interest resolutely and keep coordination and collaboration with China on major issues. Premier Wen noted that China is willing to continue to support and assist African countries’ efforts of seeking national stability and development. He also attended the Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs and encouraged entrepreneurs of both sides to make concerted efforts to lift China-Africa economic and trade cooperation to a new level.

The FOCAC Ministerial Conference is a grand gathering aiming at strengthening China-Africa solidarity and cooperation and a new landmark in the history of China-Africa friendly cooperation.

II. Deepen Mutual Trust between China and Arab Countries

Yang said that China and Arab countries have stood together through thick and thin since the founding of New China. In recent years, the friendly cooperation between China and Arab countries has achieved long-term progress, but both sides still face severe challenges of non-traditional threats. To strengthen dialogue, consolidate friendship, deepen mutual trust, maintain security and stability and realize common development comply with the fundamental interest of both sides.

Premier Wen especially visited the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, met with Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa and delivered an important speech entitled Respecting Diversity of Civilizations. He pointed out that dialogues, exchanges and integration among different civilizations have promoted the progress of human society. Both the Islamic and the Chinese civilizations have made indelible contributions to the progress and development of human society. The dialogue and exchanges between the Islamic and the Chinese civilizations have vigorously enhanced their cultural prosperity and economic development respectively and stimulated the interactions between the Eastern and Western civilizations.

Premier Wen said that civilizations can be different, but no civilization is superior to others. We should build consensus from differences, seek harmony from diversity and push forward development through exchanges, which is the value of civilization that human society should look after.

He stressed that the Chinese government is committed to implementing and improving the system of regional ethnic autonomy, ensuring equality among all ethnic groups and pursuing the policy of freedom of religious belief. The Chinese ethnic groups and population who believe in Islam are all important members of the big family of the Chinese nation and their religious belief, cultural tradition and way of life are fully respected. We always give top priority to maintaining national unification, ethnic unity and social stability in the course of development.

He proposed that China and Arab countries increase political mutual trust, strengthen strategic cooperation and work together to protect peace and stability; reinforce economic and trade cooperation to achieve mutually beneficial and win-win results; promote cultural exchanges and deepen mutual understanding and friendship.

He reaffirmed that China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Middle East issue in order to achieve peace, security and stability in the region.

He solemnly announced that China and the Arab world were friends in the past, are friends today and will remain friends forever. The Chinese people will always be the trusted brothers of the Arab people.

Yang said that Premier Wen’s speech elaborated thoroughly China’s ethnic and religious policy, advocated equal dialogue and exchanges among civilizations, put forward proposals on developing relations with Arab countries and further explained the proposition of the Chinese government on building a harmonious world. Receiving positive response and strong resonance from Arab countries, his speech fully demonstrated the Chinese government and people’s respect for Islam and friendly feeling with Arab countries, deepened mutual understanding and promoted development of bilateral relations. Arab countries thank China for its consistent support for the justice undertaking of the Arab people and resolutely support China’s efforts of maintaining national unification and territorial integrity. They are willing to step up the all-round cooperation with China in order to maintain international and regional peace, stability and development.

III. Enhance China-Egypt Strategic Cooperative Relations

Yang noted that Egypt, as a big country in Africa and the Middle East, exerts major influence on the region and the Arab world. It is the earliest African and Arab country establishing diplomatic ties with New China and building strategic cooperative relations with China. Both China and Egypt are big developing countries and hold extensive mutual interest and similar proposition. To further deepen China-Egypt relations is beneficial not only to the two countries but also to the solidarity and cooperation between China and Arab countries, China and African countries and among developing countries. The Egyptian side attached great importance to and made special protocol arrangements for Premier Wen’s visit. Prime Minister Nazif personally received Premier Wen at the airport. President Mubarak held a long talk and jointly chaired with Premier Wen the opening ceremony of FOCAC Ministerial Conference. The deep feeling of the Egyptian people with the Chinese people ran throughout the visit.

Premier Wen held meetings with President Mubarak and Prime Minister Nazif respectively. Leaders of both sides reviewed China-Egypt strategic cooperative relations since its establishment 10 years ago and exchanged in-depth views on the future development of bilateral ties. Premier Wen recognized the important role of Egypt in promoting the relations between China and African and Arab countries and indicated that China attaches strategic importance to the friendly cooperative relations with Egypt. Both sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges, continue to move forward the Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone project soundly, expand bilateral trade and investment, strengthen cooperation on infrastructure, energy and finance, promote cultural and educational exchanges and interactions of youth, enhance communications and coordination on such major issues as coping with the international financial crisis and climate change, constantly enrich the connotation of bilateral strategic cooperation and make new contributions to advancing harmonious and sustainable development throughout the world. He stressed that China is willing to step up the all-round cooperation with Egypt and diversify the strategic cooperation. The two prime ministers also witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents on economy and trade, culture and customs and jointly inaugurated the project of China-Egypt Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone.

Yang said that Primer Wen’s visit has achieved fruitful results and consolidated the foundation for the future development of friendly cooperation between China and Egypt.

IV. Promote Cultural and Educational Exchanges and Enhance Understanding of China

Yang noted that Premier Wen pays high attention to conducting dialogue and interactions with the media and the local people. Each time when he visits foreign countries, he will try to arrange such activities.

In response to the international community’s concern about China and misgivings about China-Africa relations, Premier Wen decided to hold a press conference during the Ministerial Conference in order to elaborate to the outside world China’s diplomatic principle and policy with Africa, clarify facts, increase mutual trust and dispel suspicions. In allusion to the argument that China plunders Africa's resources and engages in "neo-colonialism", Premier Wen said that as distance tests a horse's strength, so time reveals a person's heart. China’s friendly cooperative relations with Africa do not start today, but started as early as half a century ago. We helped Africa build the Tanzania-Zambia Railway and dispatched a large number of medical teams to Africa and never took a single drop of oil or one ton of ore from Africa. China’s imported oil from Africa only makes up 13% of Africa’s oil export and our oil and gas investment in Africa accounts for less than 1/16 of global investment in Africa. China’s assistance to Africa is never attached to any political condition. As to the development mode of Africa, he pointed out that Africa’s development should follow its own path in line with its real conditions. Concerning climate change, he upheld to follow the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” and called on developed countries to provide technological and capital assistance for developing countries including the African countries.

Premier Wen’s answers were full of wisdom and self-confidence, convincing people by reasoning and moving people by emotion. He let the fact speak itself and fallacy collapse of itself, promoting the image of China as a peace-loving, developing, cooperative and responsible country. The international media reported his visit quickly and widely and expected effect was achieved.

Yang said that both China and Egypt are ancient civilizations and the two peoples enjoy a long history of exchanges. Premier Wen inspected the Chinese Cultural Center in Cairo, communicated cordially with the Chinese teachers working there and local students, presented awards to the Egyptians who had made outstanding contributions to China-Egypt cultural exchanges and encouraged them to carry forward and disseminate the friendship between China and Egypt.

Premier Wen was concerned about the Chinese enterprises doing business in Africa. He visited Huawei’s Middle East and North Africa training center and Brilliance China’s plant in Egypt and emphasized that give a man a fish, you have fed him for today; teach a man to fish, and you have fed him for a lifetime. Enterprises should pay attention to human resources training with the purpose of improving the quality of local employees, introduce advanced technologies and managerial experience to the local communities, enhance the self-development capacity of localities and serve as the promoters of friendship between China and foreign countries. He required Chinese enterprises to operate according to local laws and creditably, assume social responsibilities, coexist with local communities harmoniously and contribute to the local economic development.

Premier Wen’s affinity and appeal shortened the distance between China and Africa and deepened the mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Egyptian people, which has been praised far and wide in Africa.

Yang said that Premier Wen went to Egypt with the desire of strengthening friendship and cooperation and left there with hope and confidence. We believe that the friendly relations between China and Egypt, Arab countries and African countries will definitely enjoy a brighter future.