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China defends its growing links with
African nations
AFP , BEIJING
Monday, Mar 08, 2010, Page 5
China rejected foreign concerns over its growing energy links with Africa
yesterday, saying it benefits African nations by bringing badly needed trade and
infrastructure development.
¡§I have noticed that in the international community there are some who do not
want to see the development of Sino-African relations and always make an issue
of China-Africa energy cooperation,¡¨ Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (·¨¼äãW) said
yesterday.
¡§The fact is that China¡¦s oil imports from Africa account for only 13 percent of
Africa¡¦s total exports, while Europe and the US account for more than 30
percent,¡¨ he told reporters.
Speaking at a press briefing on the sidelines of China¡¦s annual parliament
session, Yang said that Chinese investment in the African petroleum industry was
just one-16th of the world total, behind US and European investment.
¡§We support other countries cooperating with Africa on the basis of equality and
mutual benefit in the energy sector. There is no reason for them to oppose our
equal and mutually beneficial cooperation with Africa,¡¨ he said.
China has steadily built up trade and economic ties with Africa in recent years,
prompting critics in the West to accuse it of taking a ¡§neo-colonialist¡¨
attitude toward the continent.
Beijing also has been criticized for befriending pariah regimes such as those in
Sudan and Zimbabwe in a cynical bid to lock up supplies of resources needed to
fuel expansion of its economy, the world¡¦s third-largest.
In November, at a meeting of China-Africa leaders in Egypt, Beijing pledged
US$10 billion in concessional loans to African countries.
Yang, who traveled to Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Algeria and Morocco in
January is what has become an annual New Year trip, said the freedom of African
countries to choose their friends should not be interfered with.
¡§In our cooperation with the people of African countries, we jointly build
railways, roads, bridges and improve their infrastructure for the benefit of the
people,¡¨ he said.
Meanwhile, Yang said all sides should keep up efforts to restart talks with
North Korea on nuclear disarmament negotiations.
The stalled six-party talks bring together the two Koreas, host China, the US,
Japan and Russia, seeking to implement a 2005 agreement offering Pyongyang aid
in return for nuclear disarmament steps.
Over a year ago, North Korea pulled out of the talks and then in May staged a
second nuclear test, drawing international condemnation and fresh UN sanctions.
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