Africa-Press – Lesotho. Since the founding of the People Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, China and African countries have always been good friends, standing together through prosperity and adversity.
The two parties have been good partners and good companions who fully trust each other even in a shifting international and geopolitical landscape.
Over the years, China has been aiding Africa countries not only during the time of liberation struggle but also in post-colonial era.
During the struggle for independence, China fought shoulder to shoulder with African countries until they gained independence, after which the second largest economy in the world continued to support them politically, militarily and economically.
Experts in international relations and geopolitics say that what makes China-Africa friendship to be more unique is their past experiences that both sides passed through.
One of China’s strengths is its unique ability to fully exploit whatever resources available for sustainable development. It should be noted that China has become Africa’s largest trading partner and creditor in recent years under programmes such as the Belt and Road Initiative.
China-Africa friendship has been fostered throughout the years when China and Africa supported and stood alongside the other in trying times. Since then, China has continued to help Africa by providing financial aid and technical assistance without prioritizing any conditions or interfering in the internal affairs of the country concerned.
The success of the China Africa friendship stems from the fundamentals laid down by our early founding leaders as well as China’s good foreign policy towards Africa. Due to China’s non-interference policy, African countries have benefited greatly and have been able to build good relationship with China politically and commercially.
China has always been showing respect and support for Africa, including sharing weal and woe with the continent.
To prove to Africa that China is indeed its true friend and trusted partner, it embraces five principles that are sincerity, real results, amity, good faith and the principles of pursuing for the greater good and shared interests.
These principles represent the fundamentals of Chinese culture and symbolize the historical traditions of China Africa friendship. They are the overarching guiding principles for China in building up solidarity and cooperation with African continent.
Through these principles, China is always considering solidarity and cooperation with African countries to be essential elements of its foreign policy which are beneficial to both parties.
This is the reason China has committed and ready to reinforce mutual support with African countries on issues involving their core interests and has promised not to interfere in any country’s internal political affairs. Rather, it wants Africa countries to resolve their internal issues in their own way without foreign interference.
Over the years, China and the Chinese people have been treating Africans not only just friends but brothers and sisters. That’s why it has pursued a “Win-Win Cooperation” policy in its foreign relations. This policy is fundamental for Africa’s development because it offers an opportunity to share the benefits.
By maintaining and strengthening further the cooperation with Africa, China has come up with five initiatives that guide China’s engagement with Africa countries.
These five initiatives are called “Five-No” approach policy, which are: no interference in African countries’ pursuit of development paths that fit their conditions; no interference in African countries’ internal affairs; no imposition of China’s will on African countries; no attachment of political strings to assistance to Africa; and no seeking of selfish political gains Why China-Africa relations grow stronger in investment and financing cooperation with Africa.
In implementing these initiatives, China does not interfere in African countries’ plans to implement their development programmes and approaches. It does not interfere in African internal affairs and also does not use domestic and political disputes as a factor in preventing lending, including offering other financial assistances in the respective countries. China’s non-interference policy has largely contributed to the availability of loans, financial aid and technical assistances in many African countries.
China also does not impose its demands on African countries, meaning that African nations have an opportunity to benefit from China’s aids that are offered with strings attached to them.
The “Five-No” policy has not only provided opportunities for African nations to benefit directly from the loans and aid offered by the Chinese government but also offered an opportunity for each country to choose a development path that suits its conditions instead of being forced to pursue a given development path.
It should be noted that, China’s Africa policies place friendship first and follow the principle of giving more and taking less, giving before taking and giving without asking for return.
African nations need partners who are committed to working with them to eliminate poverty and develop their economy while at the same time respecting their sovereignty.
As African countries are striving to meet their national vision goals as well as meeting their AU Agenda 2063 and UN 2030 for sustainable development. They need a true partner that will help and guide them to achieve all those goals.
In addition, they need a true friend who will provide them with soft and unconditional loans for the construction of developmental infrastructure to reduce the infrastructure gap and accelerate development in their countries, and China has proven to be the nation that can play that role.
China’s non-intervention policy, its principles and its commitment to helping African countries to achieve their development goals without interfering in their internal affairs, and or prioritizing its interests are some of the factors that make China to be trusted and accepted by most African governments.
It is important to understand that after African states gained independence, colonial governments continued to help African countries politically and economically, but they were not ready to finance the construction of strategic infrastructure that serve as the catalyst for development.
For example, when President Julius Nyerere and President Kenneth Kaunda were searching for financial aid from Western countries to finance the construction of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA), their request was rejected on the pretext that the project was not feasible but when they turned to the Chinese government, the aid was offered without any conditions.
Today, we are witnessing many African governments investing heavily in important and strategic infrastructure with the assistance of Chinese government, stimulating their economic growth.
China-Africa relations are not relations of the superior – inferiority parties, they are rather based on brotherhood. There is no doubt that China has, to a larger extent, contributed to various development and brought about major economic reforms in Africa. Many of these new development projects would not have been achieved without Chinese lending and good investment policy towards Africa, supported by its non-interference policy.
China’s non-interference policy, along with its principles which guide its engagement with African countries are crucial and have contributed greatly in strengthening China-Africa relations and cooperation in various fields.
Source: Daily News
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