Site Search :
查查英汉在线翻译
Newsmore
·Fifth Ministerial Conference of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Held in Beijing
·Drug Fight Confronted with More Challenges
·Senior CPC Leader Returns to Beijing after Four-country Visit
Culturemore
·Calligraphy, Then and Now
·Lotus Painter Cai Qibao
·The Olympic Ideal
Tourismmore
·Riverside Romance in Central Anhui
·Into the Wild – Hiking through Qizang Valley
·Folklore Flying High in Weifang
Economymore
·China’s Soft Power: Room for Improvement
·Browse, Click, Buy - Domestic Consumers Head Overseas with Online Shopping
·A Private Company’s Road to Internationalization
Lifemore
·Zhang Jiao, Ardent Advocate of Afforestation and Green Farming
·First Single Children Come of Age
·E-Government: Open, Approachable Government Websites
Around Chinamore
·Scientists Uncover Causes of Mass Extinction in the Ashes
·Kaili -- Scenery, Music and Southern Charm
·Ningxia: Putting Money Down on Culture
Special Report  

Africans Will Create an African Miracle

-- An Interview with Chinese Ambassador to Cameroon Xue Jinwei

By YAN WEIJUAN, WANG BINGYI & LI ZHIJIAN

 

 

 

XUE Jinwei, Chinese ambassador to Cameroon, met with us in Yaoundé, talked about relations between the two countries, China's assistance to Cameroon, and the different development models available to Africa.

 

CIPG: Cameroonian President Paul Biya paid a state visit to China at the invitation of President Hu Jintao from July 20 to 22. Could you tell us the outcomes of that visit and comment on the development of bilateral relations in recent years?

Xue: The year 2011 is the 40th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the PRC and the Republic of Cameroon. President Biya's visit can be seen as the outcome of 40 years of evolving bilateral relations, and also as a window on future trends.

President Hu Jintao expressed his satisfaction with the sustained, stable and healthy bilateral relations. The friendship, I think, is based on the following factors. First, both developing countries, China and Cameroon share common development concerns, and the same consensus and aspirations with respect to bilateral relations.

Second, the two countries have been maintaining an equitable and friendly partnership. China has always seen Cameroon as a friend, and assisted its economic development. Cameroon in turn regards China as one of its most loyal and trustworthy strategic partners.

In addition, China respects Cameroon's choices and never interferes with its internal affairs. China's assistance played an important role in improving that country's ability to improve the lives of its people. With communication channels open at the highest levels, bilateral relations have sustained good momentum and have been productive.

CIPG: Could you comment on the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and its impact on China-Cameroon relations?

Xue: The forum is a strategic approach taken by China and African countries to respond to the challenges brought about by globalization and to seek common development in the process. Since its founding in 2000, especially after the Beijing Summit in 2006, China-Africa relations have become closer and the scale of cooperation expanded. The Chinese and African governments scaled up practical cooperation projects and took them into broader fields at higher levels.

The principle of common development also characterizes cooperation between China and Cameroon. High-level political officials maintain frequent exchanges. In January 2007 President Hu Jintao made a state visit to Cameroon, and at the end of it a joint communiqué was issued. In March 2010, Jia Qinglin, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, also paid an official visit to Cameroon, as did Vice Premier Hui Liangyu in January 2011. In July 2011 President Biya made his fifth visit to China.

The two countries have supported each other with respect to international affairs as well. Economic cooperation remains the core of the relationship. Bilateral trade has shown stable and rapid growth. The volume of bilateral trade surpassed US $100 million in 1997; and reached one billion in 2010, up 23.1 percent over the previous year.

CIPG: Could you give us more details on aid programs and cooperation projects in Cameroon?

Xue: There are over a dozen projects being completed or under construction right now. The successful examples include Lagdo Hydropower Station, Yaoundé Conference Hall, Yaoundé Multi-purpose Stadium, and Yaoundé Women and Children's Hospital. The Yaoundé Multi-purpose Stadium, for example, plays a big part in the social life of local communities. It holds sports games, concerts, weddings and even religious services.

Since 1975, China has dispatched 15 medical teams and over 400 medical workers to Cameroon. In 2002, we assisted in the construction of a maternity hospital; and another one is underway in Douala. According to the agreement signed during President Biya's visit, China is set to send a shipment of medical instruments to these hospitals and supply Cameroon anti-malaria drugs over five consecutive years.

The Export-Import Bank of China has been increasing its investment in Cameroon in recent years as well. It signed a number of preferential loans pacts with the Cameroonian government which included construction of a 300,000-line CDMA network and the Douala urban water supply project phase I, both of which have been completed and won praise from Cameroon. Coming up are the Limbe and Bafoussam Stadium, the Mekin Hydropower Station, and 1,500 residential apartments. The projects of preferential buyer's credit include a fiber-optics backbone transmission network, the Douala urban water supply project phase II, the Kribi deep-water port and engineering machinery purchasing. And commercial loans projects include Memve'ele Hydropower Plant and 350,000-line CDMA expansion project.

The critical role of these projects in improving Cameroon's economy is evident, as most involving infrastructure, telecom capacity and job creation. Construction periods were often only one to two years, so for any number of reasons the Chinese have a good reputation in Cameroon. In Douala Chinese Commodity City, Chinese goods are popular for their good quality and affordable prices. Now more Cameroonians are coming to China to seek suitable wholesale goods and transport back to Cameroon, promoting bilateral trade further.

CIPG: How about cooperation in other fields?

Xue: Of course we have cooperation in other fields. In agriculture, for example, Shaanxi State Farm Company built an agricultural demonstration center to promote advanced planting techniques. In culture and talent exchanges, the Chinese government provids over 30 full scholarships to Cameroonian students every year. Over 160 Cameroonians have received training provided by the Chinese government so far this year.

The Confucius College established in the University of Yaoundé II offers Chinese language and culture lessons of different levels, training more than 3,200 students so far. It also made a series of 15-minute program on Chinese language for private television CANAL2, one of which was aired every day.

Cameroonians are no strangers to Chinese art troupes. The Shenzhen Art Troupe recently gave two performances here. And the Cameroonian Dance Troupe also paid several visits to China. Inviting Chinese artists to direct, they performed in international venues like the Shanghai 2010 World Expo and South Africa World Cup.

CIPG: Could you talk about your personal experience and your feelings about Africa?

Xue: My diplomatic career started in East Africa, and turned to the West later. After I graduated in late 1974, I was sent to Madagascar, where I worked for 13 years and studied the local language. Then I worked in the Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in charge of East Africa affairs. Following that I was appointed ambassador to Gabon for four years. Now I am in Cameroon.

"You might be afraid of Africa if you have never been here, you will fall in love with Africa when you come, and miss it when you leave," someone came to those conclusions and I couldn't agree more. This is a big stage for the ambitious. Africans are friendly toward Chinese and it's easy to get along with them. No matter when I was a student in Madagascar or an ambassador in Cameroon, I had and have the same feeling. In the 1970s, Mao Zedong's works On Contradiction and On Practice were part of middle school curriculum in Madagascar, so many people still adore Chairman Mao.

Africa is resource-rich, with special traditions and cultures. It was not fully developed due to historical reasons, resulting in backward conditions that persist today. Africans are smart. Many of my classmates in Madagascar hold important positions in their country now.

CIPG: How do you evaluate China's development model and Africa's model?

Xue: Compared with other continents, Africa is somewhat backward. In the 1960s and 1970s, African countries won their independence one after another. They put great effort into exploring new models of economic and political development, a phase during which nationalization was popular. In the 1990s, democratization, privatization and the multi-party system were promoted.

In the last 50 years, Africa has been moving forward, though experiencing turmoil. I believe the next 50 years will witness the maturation and further development of the continent. Africans also know they need to improve their political and economic systems while seeking suitable roads for development.

The development of China has always been based on the practical situation of the country. The size of China's population decides a labor-intensive economy. But China's model is not entirely suitable for Africa, though some experiences are worth sharing. African countries all have different situations, which means they can't all copy a single model. In West Africa, rich resources and stable politics guarantee a promising future, but that still needs time. I believe African countries will eventually find a path best for them, and through unremitting effort and exploration, create the "African miracle."

VOL.59 NO.12 December 2010 Advertise on Site Contact Us