Timely Words in the China Daily - 14 Jan - *******Africa is...

Timely Words in the China Daily - 14 Jan -

*******Africa is important for China because it is the fastest-growing region economically and a time-proven friend diplomatically. It also provides much-needed energy and mineral resources and a market for China's supply chains, the academic said.

14 Jan 21 - http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202101/13/WS5ffe5eaca31024ad0baa2484.html

Maria Gustava, Mozambique's ambassador to China, said the relationship between China and Africa in 2020, especially their joint efforts against COVID-19, was excellent and "a good example of true solidarity which prevailed from the initial stages of the outbreak of COVID-19 up to now".

Crucial support

She said that Africa stood with China and delivered crucial support when China was at the height of its battle against the virus.

"China also provided timely, valuable assistance through a multipronged approach in bolstering Africa's capabilities to respond to the pandemic," she said. "Indeed, China and Africa have a history of working together to mitigate challenges."

Gustava noted the significance of the extraordinary summit between the leaders of Africa and China, in which solidarity was expressed as part of efforts to boost international cooperation against COVID-19.

The outcome of the summit sent a strong message to the world on the importance of countries working together to address the challenges posed by a common enemy.

******* "China and Africa are strategic partners, share common values and principles and the existing friendship between them is deep-rooted and sincere," she said. "Therefore, China plays an important role in African development in different forms, and Africa is an important ally for China in pursuing its principles of world peace, sustainable development, eradication of poverty, climate change mitigation and multilateralism, among others."

He Yun, an assistant professor at the School of Public Administration at Hunan University in Changsha, said last year brought challenges and opportunities for the China-Africa relationship.

Because of the spread of COVID-19, the numbers of people traveling between China and Africa have fallen dramatically. As a result, people-to-people exchanges have been dealt a severe blow.

"However, China has been quick to provide medical aid, supplies, and debt relief to African nations in the fight against COVID-19," He said. "These efforts proved China is a reliable and trusted partner and they strengthened bilateral relations."Africa is important for China because it is the fastest-growing region economically and a time-proven friend diplomatically. It also provides much-needed energy and mineral resources and a market for China's supply chains, the academic said.nd a market for China's supply chains, the academic said.