Chinese and African leaders vowed on Monday to build stronger political and economic ties to counter United States and European dominance in world affairs and improve the standing of poor countries.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao promised preferential, zero-tariff trade deals with 34 African countries while attending a two-day summit in Addis Ababa. Wen was on his way from a visit to the US, but did not spare any criticism of the US dominance in international relations.
“It is all too clear that world peace and development cannot possibly be sustained if the north-south divide grows wider and developing nations grow poorer,” he said. “Regional conflicts are going on unabated and non-traditional security problems, such as terrorism, communicable diseases, environmental degradation and aggravating poverty have become more prominent.”
Wen said rich nations must “devote more care, pay more attention and give more understanding toward African nations”. He then announced a number of trade proposals, increased aid and debt cancellation.
“Economic globalisation, while bringing development opportunities to all nations, is also posing unprecedented challenges to the developing world,” Wen said.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe launched into a tirade against Britain and the US in his speech to the conference, calling on African leaders to turn their backs on Western countries and to focus on better relations with China, which he said always respected African nations.
“The West feels triumphant, believing it can make and unmake, dismantle and occupy sovereign states at will, loot their economies as it seeks to remake the world after its own image,” Mugabe said.
“We tend to think West, dream West, plan West, trade West and in the final analysis sleep West, lured by the Western sunset.”
African leaders warmly applauded his speech.
Britain and the US have imposed sanctions on Mugabe, accusing him of rigging elections, brutally oppressing the political opposition in his country and illegally seizing large commercial farms and giving the land to his supporters.
Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano said he appreciates China’s support and aid to Africa and welcomes future cooperation.
“We are confident that this interaction will be expanded under the spirit of our togetherness, for the mutual benefit and welfare of our people,” he said.
Wen’s visit to Ethiopia is considered part of China’s continued effort to win support from African leaders for votes in the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation. Trade between China and Africa totals $12-billion a year, but the leaders at the summit said they hope to triple that number in the next three years.
Wen is expected also to hold talks with the presidents of Uganda, Sudan, Comoros and Congo. He will also meet vice-presidents from South Africa, Sierra Leone and Burundi, as well as prime ministers from Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau and Algeria. — Sapa-AP
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