20 Dec 2022

China is committed to implementation of its plans and policies that will influence Africa-China relations as well as the international world.

In an interview, China Ambassador to Botswana, Mr Wang Xuefeng said the 20^th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held in October was to design the country’s development strategy for the coming 15 to 30 years as the party pursues its Second Centenary Goals and to build China into a modern socialist country.

He said China remained the world’s second largest economy, adding that China had become a major trading partner for more than 140 countries and regions, leading the world in total volume of trade in goods.

With a GDP that has grown to 114 trillion Yuan, accounting for 18.5 per cent of the world economy, the ambassador commended CPC for the achievements.

This, he said was due to, China’s efforts to build a self reliant nation and strengthening science and technology research.

He said China’s spending on research and development rose from 1 trillion Yuan to 2.8 trillion Yuan, the second highest in the world.

“China is now home to the largest cohort of research and development personnel in the world,” he said.

“The past five years have been truly momentous and extraordinary as Xi Jinping, General secretary of the CPC has pursued strategy of national rejuvenation amid global changes of a magnitude not seen in a century.”

Regarding the diplomatic front, Ambassador Wang observed that, the CPC 20^th National Congress continued to promote world peace and development and building a human community with a shared future.

“It has drawn a grand roadmap and charted the course for major-country diplomacy with China on a new journey,” he said.

He pointed out that the congress emphasised that China’s committed to its foreign policy goals of upholding world peace and promoting common development, and dedicated to promoting a human community with a shared future.

Additionally, Ambassador Wang said that China remained firm in pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace and had in the past decided its position and policy on issues based on their own merits.

He also stated that China adhered to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in pursuing friendship and cooperation with other countries, saying that China was resolute on its fundamental national policy.

Meanwhile Ambassador Wang further said China played an active part in the reform and development of the global governance system and worked to make global governance fairer and more equitable.

He urged countries to hold values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom and join forces to meet global challenges to assist in building an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoyed peace, universal security and common prosperity.

Ambassador Wang further said that China and Africa, had built strong bilateral friendships.

He said that since the launch of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2000, the relationship had taken a giant leap forward, and the solidarity and cooperation between the two sides enjoyed broader prospects.

He further noted that under the guidance of the spirit of the 20^th National Congress, China would uphold the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity, and good faith and with a commitment to the greater good and shared interests.

“China will endeavor to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with African countries and safeguard the common interests of the developing world, and strive to create new opportunities for the world with its own development and to contribute its share to building an open global economy that delivers greater benefits to all peoples” he said.

The ambassador said China was prepared to invest more resources in global development cooperation and supporting developing countries including Africa in accelerating development.

“China welcomes Botswana and other African countries aboard the express train of China’s development, so as to share and explore more opportunities for common development,” said Ambassador Wang. ENDS