On Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and State Counsellor Foreign Minister Wang Yi, conducted meetings with top diplomats of Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Algeria.
Ethiopia
Wang Yi held a telephonic conversation with the Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen. During the conversation, Wang said that the relationship between the two countries “has set an example for China-Africa cooperation”. According to recent data, Beijing accounts for nearly half of Ethiopia’s external debt and lent at least $13.7 billion to the African nation between 2000 and 2018. In terms of infrastructure, China helped build the $3.4 billion railway project connecting Ethiopia to Djibouti, thus providing the landlocked country access to ports. Funds from China also helped construct Ethiopia’s first six-lane highway—an $800 million project. Additionally, it has also helped build a metro system and several skyscrapers in Addis Ababa.
To further this relationship, Wang announced that China has decided to provide a batch of COVID-19 vaccines, along with funds to support the country’s fight against the pandemic and aid its economic recovery. In response, Demeke said that Ethiopia appreciates China’s vaccine assistance and its “selfless support for Ethiopian economic and social development”.
In addition, Wang also expressed hope that normalcy will soon return to the country’s Tigray Region, where a six-month state of emergency was declared in November due to threats to the “constitutional order, public peace and security”. In this regard, Wang announced that China will provide emergency food assistance.
Algeria
In his telephonic conversation with Algerian Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum, Wang Yi said that the relationship between the two countries was “an example of cooperation between developing countries”. The Foreign Minister said that the two must continue “to promote the Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) to further enrich their comprehensive strategic partnership. He also announced that China has decided to offer a batch of the COVID-19 vaccines to Algeria and facilitate its vaccine procurement as well. In response, Sabri Boukadoum wished the Chinese people a prosperous new year, appreciated China’s offer of the vaccine batch, and agreed to further promote BRI in the country.
China and Algeria have been traditional allies and Algeria is China’s fifth-largest trade partner in Africa, with their bilateral trade reaching $9.1 billion in 2018. In addition, since 1963, China has sent 26 medical teams of 3,400 doctors to the country that have helped treat 23.7 million patients.
Nigeria
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. Xi used the 50th anniversary as an opportunity to further the two countries’ traditional friendship within the framework of the BRI and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which is a part of China’s framework to expand its foothold within Africa.
Under the BRI framework, China has invested in Nigeria’s railway, highway, electric power, and national defence projects. During their conversation on Wednesday, President Buhari thanked China for this aid. He also added that Nigeria would work towards ensuring a successful meeting of the FOCAC, which is supposed to be held later this year.
Post Pandemic Recovery and BRI Feature in China’s Teleconferences With African Leaders
Top Chinese officials held meetings with representatives from Ethiopia, Algeria, and Nigeria this week to discuss COVID-19 vaccines and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
February 12, 2021
SOURCE: THE ECONOMIC TIMES