Wang Yi Talks about Three Goals of His Visit to Africa

On January 6, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Raychelle Awuor Omamo jointly met the press in Mombasa.

Wang Yi said, China's diplomacy has a 32-year-old tradition, that is, the destination of its first overseas visit at the beginning of every new year must be Africa. The tradition shows with concrete actions that China cherishes its traditional friendship with Africa, stays committed to prioritizing Africa in China's diplomacy, and is willing to be a good friend and good partner of Africa. In spite of the challenges posed by the pandemic, we have come here as scheduled, come rain or shine, and remain true to our original aspiration. This is the undertone of China-Africa friendship. My visit to Africa this time has three main goals:

First, work with Africa to defeat the pandemic. The world is facing a new round of impact of the Omicron strain. As a friend of Africa, China will never sit by. President Xi Jinping has announced that China will provide another 1 billion doses of vaccines to Africa, and this largest-scale assistance plan to Africa is in progress. Batches of vaccines are being transported across mountains and seas and delivered to every corner of Africa where there is in need. Today, we have announced an additional 10 million doses of vaccines for Kenya. We will absolutely stand by our African brothers and sisters until the final victory is won.

Second, speed up the implementation of the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Over a month ago, the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC was successfully held. President Xi Jinping announced the "nine programs" for China-Africa practical cooperation. A series of bilateral cooperation documents signed by China and Kenya today are the early harvest of the "nine programs" in Kenya. We stand ready to enhance synergy with African partners, roll up our sleeves and work hard to deliver all the outcomes of the conference to the benefit of the African people, help Africa speed up post-pandemic recovery and embark on the path of independent and sustainable development at an early date. The so-called "debt trap" in Africa is not a fact, but a malicious hype-up. It is an "utterance trap" created by those external forces that do not want to see Africa accelerate development. If there is any "trap" in Africa, it is the "poverty trap" and the "underdevelopment trap". China is willing to work with all friendly countries to help African countries speed up post-pandemic recovery, eliminate poverty and underdevelopment, catch up with the times as soon as possible, achieve common development and create a better future.

Third, firmly uphold the common interests of China and Africa. In the face of power politics, hegemony and bullying and unilateral acts, China and Africa have the responsibility to jointly practice true multilateralism and safeguard international fairness and justice. China is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Africa in international and regional affairs, safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and basic norms governing international relations, safeguard the legitimate interests of developing countries and push the development of the international order towards a more just and reasonable direction.