CIDCA chairman talks about China’s foreign aid during COVID-19 pandemic

Luo Zhaohui, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), accompanied State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi to attend the Symposium on the International Situation and China's Foreign Relations in 2021, and made a speech on China's foreign aid against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic on Dec 20.

Emphasizing vivid stories of Juncao assistance for foreign countries and the success of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation at the start of his speech, Luo described the past, the current and the future development of China's foreign aid and its distinguished principles and practices. 

He said facing the combined forces of change and a pandemic, both unseen in a century, the foreign aid of China follows the concepts of building a community with a shared future for mankind and serving the head-of-state diplomacy to not only promote the economic development and livelihood improvement of the recipient countries but also strongly serve China in building a new development paradigm and safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests. 

This year's foreign aid mainly focused on international anti-pandemic cooperation. China is carrying out the largest global emergency humanitarian assistance since the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), Luo said, adding that China's vaccine donations have been launched early, implemented rapidly, and shipped frequently to many places. The vaccine donations are equally accessed and carried out with all commitments accomplished. 

China has already provided over 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine to more than 120 countries and international organizations, making it the top vaccine donator around the world. The presidents and prime ministers of more than 30 countries attended the vaccine handover ceremonies and took the lead in being vaccinated, Luo said. 

In addition to taking the lead in international anti-pandemic cooperation, China has also focused on small projects that cost less but bear fruits rapidly and benefit people's livelihoods, Luo added, stating that China has prudently arranged complete sets of projects, balancing the large and small.

The CIDCA held three important events this year, namely the Exhibition of Achievements on China International Development Cooperation, the Forum on the 20th Anniversary of Juncao Assistance and Sustainable Development Cooperation, and the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund and the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development.

Luo introduced the three stages of China's 71 years of foreign aid. They are the exploration stage from the founding of the PRC to the reform and opening-up, the reform stage from the reform and opening-up to the 18th CPC National Congress, and the innovation stage of foreign aid in the new era. 

He emphasized that while China's foreign aid in the new era is more precisely positioned, its concept continues to be innovative, its mechanism is increasingly perfected, and its contribution is increasingly expanded.

Great achievements have been made and distinguished characteristics have been formed in foreign aid 71 years on, Luo said, adding that China's foreign aid adheres to non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and is without any political strings attached.

In the coming year, China's foreign aid will continue to lead the international anti-pandemic cooperation with head-of-state diplomacy as the top priority, focus on people's livelihoods to promote economic recovery after the pandemic, help build the green silk road, and advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with a multilateral platform, Luo said.