中非合作将愿景变为现实

今年是中非合作论坛成立20周年，中非合作论坛是中国与非洲友邦进行共同对话磋商的重要平台，是一项针对发展中国家的合作机制。

中非同为发展中国家

中国在过去几年间以惊人的速度跻身世界超级大国之列，但中国和非洲国家之间有一个共同的身份，那就是中非都是发展中国家。

中国作为世界人口第一大国、世界第二大经济体经历了狂飙突进的经济发展，创造了举世瞩目的经济奇迹，现在中国正努力提高与世界各国之间的关系。中国在非洲开展大型投资、援助等项目，帮助非洲国家实现经济发展繁荣。

2018年中非合作论坛北京峰会的成功举办，中非领导人一致决定构建更加紧密的中非命运共同体。今年是落实2018年中非合作论坛北京峰会成果的关键一年。

20年来，中非合作论坛已经变成实现非洲大陆转型的重要窗口，也是首屈一指的对非国际合作平台。

中卢合作惠及两国人民

非洲在历史上是欧洲强国的殖民地，这使得非洲难以摆脱资本主义强国、独立发展经济。殖民者对非洲的自然资源掠夺将非洲人民置于进退维谷的两难境地。幸运的是，这种状况只延续了几年。中国作为世界第二大经济体为非洲大陆的增长与转型做出了重要贡献。

其中，卢旺达尤其得益于与中国的多年合作。

在1月份首都基加利市举办春节庆典前夕，中国驻卢旺达大使就中国的发展，特别是中国与非洲国家关系的深化进行了回顾总结。

在中非合作论坛20周年之际，饶宏伟大使谈到，两国人民之间的友谊在发展过程中有几个值得庆祝的里程碑。大使将卢旺达比作一片充满希望的土地，卢旺达有着巨大的发展潜力，并在积极探寻独立与可持续发展的道路。中卢两国之间一直保持着较高水平的合作关系。

大使提到了很多中卢合作的事例，包括人员培训、中国在卢旺达各地援建大楼、中方各领域专家到访卢旺达、卢旺达航空开通广州直飞基加利往返航线、第一部中卢口述历史著作的出版、卢旺达产品通过阿里巴巴平台销往中国市场等等。

大使承诺中国会继续努力，通过加强与卢旺达的友谊，惠及两国人民。

今年是中非合作论坛的第20周年，是落实中非合作论坛北京峰会成果、推进“一带一路”倡议、推动人类命运共同体建设的绝佳时机。

同时两国合作正在逐步推进，目的是落实卢旺达2020远景规划，以及在2050远景规划框架下中卢两方合作的协同效应。

卢旺达青年部长罗斯玛丽·姆巴巴齐在与卢旺达华人社区共同庆祝新春佳节时代表卢旺达总统讲话时提到，中卢关系正处于上升轨道上，两国过去几年的友好合作取得了丰硕的成果。

她表示，2018年习近平主席对卢旺达进行国事访问，标志着两国友谊向纵深发展。中卢两国之间签署的一系列协议，其中包括商业互访、为非洲学生提供奖学金等等。

卢旺达是位于非洲中东部的一个内陆国家，其开放程度已到达前所未有的高度。“一带一路”倡议覆盖卢旺达及其他非洲国家，推动非洲跳跃式发展，促进非洲北部、南部、西部、东部的互联互通，加强各地区经贸往来关系。

⬆左图：2019年6月18日晚，卢旺达航空公司的客机飞抵广州白云国际机场，首次进入中国市场，右图：搭乘卢旺达航空至广州航班的旅客登机

与非洲开展务实合作

西方列强很早就来到了非洲，此后非洲大陆一直处于殖民者势力范围之内。而中国则给非洲的发展提供了切实的支持与帮助。

2020年1月，国务委员兼外交部长王毅在访问津巴布韦哈拉雷市时表示，中非合作论坛在国际对非合作中保持引领地位，20年来，中非合作论坛已成为中非开展集体对话的重要平台，有助于促进两国相互理解。 

多年来，非洲国家与中国在人文交流、教育、文化等社会经济领域保持着良好的互利共赢合作关系。中非合作论坛成果经多年积累，遍及非洲各地。

在基础设施方面，东非正与中国合作修建一条从肯尼亚蒙巴萨、经由乌干达、通往卢旺达的标准轨距铁路，铁路预计会通向布隆迪与刚果民主共和国。该项目使非洲基础设施水平快速提高，加速了非洲融入世界经济全球化的脚步。中国在非洲建设的铁路和公路已分别超过6000公里，还建设了近20个港口和80多个大型电力设施，促进了非洲工业化进程，提升了非洲的自主发展能力。

在贸易和投资方面，2019年，中非贸易额突破2000亿美元，中国已连续11年成为非洲第一大贸易伙伴。中国对非直接投资存量达1100亿美元，3700多家中国企业在非洲各地投资兴业，为非洲经济的持续增长提供了强劲动力。

在民生领域，中方迄今已援建了130多个医疗设施、45个体育馆、170多所学校，近五年培训非洲各类人才超过20万人次，分布在非洲各行各业，为增进非洲人民的切身利益和福祉作出了重要贡献。

在提升非洲国家能力建设方面，中国为非洲培训相关人才，使其在自然资源开发利用、基础设施建设、教育医疗、科技等领域优势迅速提升。

在中非合作带动下，其他域外国家也纷纷加大了对非洲的关注，给非洲发展带来了更多机遇。

在医疗领域，中方一直对非进行医疗援助。中方已累计派出医疗队员2.1万人次，迄今在非洲各国医治病患2.2亿人次。

中非合作的成果无可限量。在中非合作的框架下，两国许多项目、倡议得以有序开展。越来越多的非洲出口享受零关税待遇，中国在非洲建立了许多经贸合作区，中国市场正逐步扩大对非开放力度。

中非合作的成果不容小觑，这一点任何国家都不可忽视。中非在各个领域、不同程度的合作关系，惠及不同年龄，不同行业的非洲人民，成果丰硕显著。非洲儿童受惠于中国提供的助学金，非洲商人、农民将产品出口至中国市场，收益颇丰。中国参与修建的学习、集市、医院等基础设施提高了非洲各国人民的身体健康状况，为非洲人民带来福祉，受到非洲各国人民的交手称赞。

中国对于非洲发展有着重要的作用，我们非洲人民理应感激中国的支持并继续维持彼此间的相互尊重，珍惜这段友谊，推进中非互利共赢合作。

20年来中非合作的巨大成果对于中非双方来讲都是一种莫大的鼓舞。如果合作能够收获预期成果，中非两方的互利共赢合作将会进行下去。中非两方应该加强合作关系、加大投入，共同将美好的合作愿景转变为切实惠及人民的美好现实。

英文版

This year marks the 20th Anniversary of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The China-Africa Cooperation Forum stands as a vital platform established by Chinese government and friendly African states for collective consultation and dialogue and as cooperation mechanism among developing countries.

China and African countries share one thing in common; they are both developing countries although China has grown at a supersonic speed over the past few years to become one of the world’s super powers.

In its rapid and stirring progress, the most populous nation and second largest economy in the world is currently transforming its economic success into improving global relations across the world with massive investments and aid to African countries to ensure the continent achieves economic progress as well.

The 2018 Beijing Summit was a great success which led African leaders and Chinese government to invest more efforts to created communities with shared future. This year is a crucial year to implement the outcomes of the 2018 FOCAC Beijing Summit.

Over 20 years, the Forum has become a vital pipe to the transformation of African continent as well as maintaining a leading position in international cooperation with Africa.

Africa’s colonization by some of the European Countries left the continent in the situation under which it was difficult for it to develop without the cooperation of big countries in economy. Colonization has deprived some natural resources of the continent leaving the peoples in the dilemma of what could be the next step. Fortunately, after some years the second largest economy in the world intervened and made a vital contribution to the growth and transformation of the continent.

Rwanda, specifically, is one the African countries whose cooperation with China has been fruitful over the years.

Ahead of this year’s celebrations of the Chinese New Year that was held in Kigali in January, the Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda reflected on China’s progress especially in relations with African countries.

Commenting on the 20th anniversary of Forum on China-Africa cooperation (FOCAC), Rao Hongwei said that there are several milestones worth celebrating as part of both countries’ friendship between the peoples of both countries.

According to the envoy, Rwanda is a land of promise and has shown enormous growth potential and actively pursuing sustainable and homegrown solutions.

Cooperation between Rwanda and China has been at high level, he noted.

He mentioned some of the events including training, complexes completed across the country, visits of Chinese experts from various fields, direct flight of the national carrier RwandAir to Guangzhou, the publication of the first -ever narrating the history of Rwanda and China, Made in Rwanda in the Chinese market through Alibaba platform among others.

He also assured that China will work hard to strengthen friendship with Rwanda to benefit the peoples.

This year’s anniversary was meant to be the right time for China and African countries to ensure sound implementation of the FOCAC Beijing Summit follow-up actions, advance Belt and Road Initiative and push forward the building of a community with a shared future for the peoples.

It was also said that steps have been taken to enhance synergy between China-Rwanda cooperation with Rwanda’s Vision 2020 and vision 2050.

Speaking on behalf of the President of the Republic of Rwanda, the Minister of Youth and Culture Rosemary Mbabazi who joined Chinese community in Rwanda to celebrate the Chinese New Year has said that Rwanda and China’s relations have been on an upward trend.

According to the Minister, more has been achieved as result of a good partnership between two countries over the years.

She noted that the Chinese President’s visit to Rwanda in 2018 had symbolized the extent at which the countries’ friendship had grown.

She also mentioned a number of agreements that had already been signed between two countries, exchanging business opportunities, scholarships for African students among others.

Rwanda, a landlocked country in Eastern Central Africa, has opened up more to the world more than ever before. The Belt and Road initiative, reaching Rwanda and beyond, is regarded as a leap forward in connecting the continent’s north, south, West and East while facilitating the integration of its economy.

African continent has been under supervision of its colonizers. Western countries came to the continent some years ago.

China’s involvement in Africa’s capacity building has been bearing real outcomes. Human capital in Africa has obviously advanced exploitation of natural resources, infrastructure development, education development, health sector development, technology advancement among other aspects.

East Africa is working with China in the development of a standard gauge railway project from Mombasa in Kenya through Uganda to Rwanda and potentially to Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo.

The cooperation has accelerated infrastructures development which led to integration of the continent’s economy into the global one as well as enhancing political integration.  

Over the years, African countries have been enjoying win-win cooperation with China in various economic and social sectors like people to people exchange, education and culture among others.

In January, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that Forum on China-Africa cooperation has maintained a leading position in international cooperation with Africa.

 Wang described the FOCAC as an important platform that has accelerated mutual understanding between China and African countries over the past 20 years. He was speaking from Harare in Zimbabwe.

According to Wang, the outcomes of the forum are obvious across the continent. He said that in terms of infrastructure, China has built more than 6,000 kilometers of railways and roads, respectively, as well as nearly 20 ports and over 80 large power plants that have boosted the process of industrialization in Africa and enhanced Africa’s ability for independent development.

In terms of trade and investment, the volume of trade between China and Africa exceeded 200 billion U.S Dollars in 2019 which led China to become Africa’s largest trading partner for 11years in a row. China’s stock of direct investment in Africa has increased to 110 billion U.S Dollars, and more than 3,700 Chinese enterprises have invested and established businesses in various parts of the continent, providing a strong driving force for the sustained economic growth in Africa.

On the side of people’s livelihood, China has so far assisted in the construction of more than 130 medical facilities, 45 gymnasiums and more than 170 schools. In only past five years, china has also trained over 200,000 personnel in various professions across the continent, which made an important contribution to promoting the vital interests and welfare of the African people.

Also, driven by China-Africa cooperation, other foreign countries have also paid more attention to Africa, bringing more opportunities for Africa’s development.

Furthermore, it was said that over the past 20 years, China has maintained consistency in cooperation with Africa.

Again, in health sector, china has been providing medical assistance to African countries. Over the years, a total of 21,000 Chinese doctors and nurses were deployed to support patients across the continent.

Countries across the world share the same aspirations towards peace, stability and development. Thus, in October 2000 China and Africa jointly established the Forum on China-Africa cooperation. The Forum serves as a crucial platform for exchanging experience in governance and enhancing mutual trust and cooperation between China and African countries.

The achievements under the cooperation are unlimited. This resulted in the establishment of several projects and initiative such as China’s market to Africa by increasing the number of African export to China that receive zero-tariff treatment, and establishment of trade economic cooperation zones in Africa.

No single country under the cooperation can overlook the outcomes. The results are obvious at all levels and all categories people young and old. African children have been benefiting from scholarships provided by China, businessmen and farmers also have been reaping a lot on Chinese market. For local people across the continent have been praising the development of the infrastructures to improve their welfares and health such as schools, markets, hospitals among others.

The East Asian economic giant’s role on the continent is paramount and Africans should appreciate as well as keeping mutual respect, sustaining their love with Chinese friends for win-win cooperation.

Both China and Africa are strongly encouraged by the achievements of their cooperation over 20 years. If the cooperation continues smooth as expected, both communities will be enjoying win-win cooperation. The journey is still long which requires both parties to accelerate and invest more efforts in brining the vision into the reality to benefit peoples.