CGTN:

Over a long period, China has offered assistance to African, Latin American, and Caribbean countries, and countries in the South Pacific region, playing a positive role in advancing development in the above-mentioned regions. Could you please briefly introduce China’s aid in those regions? Thank you.

Luo Zhaohui:

This is a very good question. Let’s give the floor to Mr. Tang Wenhong, who’s in charge of the work. He has just completed a visit to three countries in Africa. 

Tang Wenhong:

I just came back to Beijing from Africa the day before yesterday, and I went to the South Pacific region in the first half of this year. Through my experience, I truly felt that China is a good partner, friend, and brother of African, Latin American, and Caribbean countries, and countries in the South Pacific region in pursuing common development. In recent years, under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, we have conducted cooperation with African countries on poverty reduction, rural work, hygiene and health, food security, digital innovation, green development, and other areas. For example, just as Mr. Luo mentioned, we helped drill over 1,000 wells in Zimbabwe, enabling people there to drink clean and sweet well water and resolving the water safety issue that has bothered local people for generations. We helped build the headquarters of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve the general capacity of disease control in Africa. We helped build Bobo-Dioulasso University Hospital Center in Burkina Faso and aided the renovation and expansion of Masaka Hospital in Rwanda , making it easier for local people to access medical treatment. We carried out photovoltaic aid projects based on local conditions, bringing light and warmth to tens of thousands of households. We carried out a batch of information and communication projects in Africa, helping African countries develop digital industries, narrow digital gaps, and embrace the digital era. We implemented the Riverside Green Development Project in Ethiopia, offering local people a good place for leisure and sightseeing. China-aided projects in Africa demonstrate the profound friendship between China and Africa, bringing health, happiness, knowledge, and employment to the African people.

We have cooperated in implementing nearly 100 complete projects, material and technical assistance projects in Latin America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific, strongly supporting local economic and social development and improvement of people's livelihood. Specifically, we have helped those countries to address natural disasters like hurricanes and tsunamis and helped recipient countries rebuild homes and resume production. At the beginning of 2022, the volcanic eruption in Tonga triggered a tsunami and other severe secondary disasters. China immediately launched a multi-dimensional rescue operation, winning high praise from the international community. In March this year, Vanuatu was twice hit by strong hurricanes, and most of its islands were severely affected, with many residences and public facilities destroyed. We quickly provided humanitarian aid and helped the Vanuatu government and people carry out disaster relief, and post-disaster reconstruction.

In the next phase, we will accelerate the advancement of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, actively implement the GDI, deepen international development cooperation, and make more contributions to improving people’s well-being in developing countries. Thank you.