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Read in Chinese
Speakers:
Luo Zhaohui, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA)
Zhang Maoyu, vice chairman of the CIDCA
Zhou Liujun, vice chairman of the CIDCA
Deng Boqing, vice chairman of the CIDCA
Chairperson:
Shou Xiaoli, deputy director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and SCIO spokesperson
Date:
Oct. 26, 2021
Shou Xiaoli:
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). Today we are very happy to be joined by Mr. Luo Zhaohui, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), and the agency's vice chairmen, Mr. Zhang Maoyu, Mr. Zhou Liujun and Mr. Deng Boqing, who will introduce China's COVID-19 assistance and international development cooperation, and answer any questions you have. Next, I'll give the floor to Mr. Luo Zhaohui.
Luo Zhaohui:
Good morning, friends from the media. It is a pleasure to meet you all. This is the first press conference held by the CIDCA since its establishment more than three years ago. I would like to thank you for your long-term interest in China's foreign aid and for your support of our agency's work. I would also like to thank the SCIO for inviting us to participate in today's press conference.
Yesterday, a conference marking the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the People's Republic of China's lawful seat in the United Nations was held in the Great Hall of the People. President Xi Jinping attended the conference and delivered an important speech. What you may not know is that our foreign aid work played a unique role in this historic event. For U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758, 22 of the 23 co-sponsors are our recipient countries. This is the epitome and pride of China's foreign aid cause from "yesterday."
At present, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, the world economy is struggling to recover and sustainable global development is facing severe challenges. Under the personal command and deployment of President Xi Jinping, we have not only achieved the "double lead" in fighting the pandemic and in economic recovery, but also carried out the longest period and widest scope of emergency humanitarian aid operation since the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Last year, China provided a large number of anti-pandemic materials such as protective suits, masks and ventilators to 150 countries and 13 international organizations. Since the beginning of this year, we have provided more than 1.5 billion doses of vaccines to 106 countries and four international organizations, which have played an important role in controlling the pandemic and leading the anti-pandemic cooperation. This is the rainbow and glory of our foreign aid cause for "today."
Our foreign aid cause has gone through 71 years of glorious history from 1950 to the present day, carrying a strong friendship and bearing fruitful results. From the Tanzania-Zambia Railway to the Karakoram Highway, from hybrid rice to Juncao planting, from artemisinin to COVID-19 vaccines, these are all amazing business cards and witnesses of China's aid. You can see "China Aid" written on the packaging of donated vaccines — this is the very business card of China. The foreign aid work is a glorious chapter in the 100-year history of the Communist Party of China (CPC). So far, China has provided various types of aid to more than 160 countries, including implementing thousands of complete projects and material aid projects, carrying out tens of thousands of technical cooperation and human resource development projects, and offering over 400,000 training opportunities for various types of personnel from developing countries. These achievements are inseparable from the hard work of our generations of foreign aid workers, and the continuous struggle of various departments on our foreign aid front.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China's foreign aid and international development cooperation have opened up new prospects and made new achievements on the existing basis.
China continues to innovate its ideas on international development cooperation. With a big heart and a global vision, President Xi Jinping put forward the important concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the principle of upholding justice while pursuing shared interests, the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity, good faith, and the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefits and inclusiveness. These ideas have inherited and carried forward Marxist internationalism and humanitarian spirit, and at the same time have combined with such traditional Chinese concepts as "making the world better if you're capable" and "creating a world of harmony and unity." Our foreign aid work is aimed at realizing these important thoughts and practicing these important ideas.
China's international development cooperation mechanism is improving day by day. More than three years ago, the Chinese government specially established the CIDCA to provide an important mechanism guarantee for promoting the quality and upgrading of international development cooperation. We also set up the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund and established the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development to help developing countries enhance their capacity for independent development.
China's contribution to international development cooperation has expanded significantly. We have contributed "Chinese solutions," "Chinese wisdom" and "Chinese power" to solve the world's development problems. In the face of endless global challenges and disasters, "Chinese aid" has never been absent. The focus of our aid is on vaccines and anti-pandemic supplies, while routine aid has not stopped, especially for overseas projects involving people's livelihoods. Taking into account the continuity of these projects and the urgent needs of recipient countries, we have overcome many difficulties and continued our aid. Of course, we did not relax for a moment regarding project safety, supervision and anti-corruption issues. We also had to change some foreign aid training projects from in-person to a combination of online and offline methods.
China is still a developing country. We attach great importance to and actively conduct foreign aid, first of all in order to practice Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. Human beings share the same Earth, depend on each other and share a common future. President Xi Jinping creatively put forward the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Our foreign aid work is a great practice toward building a community with a shared future for mankind, and is also the lofty embodiment of the CPC's original mission in the cause of human progress.
Second, our work is in order to consolidate and deepen friendly cooperation with other developing countries, expand our circle of friends, and seek common prosperity and development. The current international situation is not peaceful, and a Cold War mentality and ideological disputes have never ceased. As a responsible major country, it is increasingly important and urgent for China to carry out foreign aid, lead South-South cooperation, build consensus on development and practice true multilateralism.
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Third, our work is in order to serve domestic economic development and deepen reform and opening-up. While helping recipient countries develop their economies and improve people's livelihoods, our foreign aid effectively drives China's high-quality products, advanced technologies and industry standards to "go global." Foreign aid also plays a very important role in stimulating trade and investment cooperation between China and recipient countries, deepening China's all-round exchanges with other countries, and creating a good external environment for China's economic and social development.
Fourth, our work is in order to give back to the international community for their good deeds. As the saying goes, favors should be returned many times more. We all know from studying the Party's history that the Communist International provided selfless aid in the founding, establishment and development of the CPC. Some important foreign friends such as Henk Sneevliet, Norman Bethune and Dwarkanath Kotnis came to China from afar. Both the construction of the PRC and its reform and opening-up have received great support from the international community. When the Wenchuan Earthquake occurred in 2008, I was the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan. Friends from the Pakistani military proposed sending a medical team to Wenchuan. I explained that the conditions for receiving people in that area were limited. They said that it didn't matter, they could even just drink water and eat vegetables and tree leaves, but they wanted to help their "Chinese brothers." As the saying goes, roses given, fragrance in hand. At the same time, China has provided aid to other countries without asking for anything in return — this has been recognized with high praise and help from the international community. At a session of the U.N. Human Rights Council this year, the West carried out unreasonable attacks on China about issues related to Xinjiang and Hong Kong, and more than 90 countries spoke out for us from a sense of justice. This is a vivid example.
Foreign aid needs to handle the dialectical relationship between "giving roses" and "leaving fragrance." It is seriously worth thinking about whether to give or not give, what to give, when to give, whether one is deliberately planting flowers to enjoy the fragrance, or planting them but then unintentionally enjoying the fragrance. When providing foreign aid, China has done what it can and has done its best. This has achieved multiple political, diplomatic, economic and social benefits, and has played an irreplaceable role in the process of the Chinese nation standing up, getting better-off and becoming stronger.
China's foreign aid and international development cooperation will continue to be guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, with the purpose of promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, with the principle of upholding justice while pursuing shared interests, and the mission of serving China's overall diplomatic policy and jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative. It will continue to take into account both bilateral and multilateral relationships, combine soft and hard aid, coordinate grant assistance and concessional loan, focus on project implementation, supervision and evaluation, and continue to create new glories in the cause of foreign aid.
On the basis of traditional bilateral assistance, we have increased exchanges and cooperation with Western countries and international organizations such as the U.N., and actively explored multilateral and tripartite cooperation. While implementing complete projects, we have focused on teaching over giving, promoting personnel training and sharing of governance experience, and use a combination of grant assistance and concessional loans to reduce project financing costs. We have strengthened the supervision of the entire chain of projects, prevented corruption risks, improved project quality, and focused on post-project evaluation to ensure the sustainable development of foreign aid.
Thank you everyone. Next, my colleagues and I will answer your questions.
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Shou Xiaoli:
Thank you, Mr. Luo. Now the floor is open to questions. Please identify your media outlet before raising questions.
CCTV:
We all know that China first began providing foreign aid to friendly neighboring countries. What assistance did China provide those countries in their fight against COVID-19? What has been achieved? Thank you.
Luo Zhaohui:
That's a very good question, thank you. China started providing foreign aid to neighboring countries 71 years ago. In 1950, a Chinese military advisory group was sent to Vietnam to assist the country in its fight against the French invasion, and the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) army entered the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the war to resist U.S. aggression and aid Korea.
During the past 71 years, the "neighborhood" has always been the top priority for China's diplomacy. It is often said that it is difficult for China to remain peaceful and secure unless its neighbors are secure. Neighborhood is the foundation for our livelihood, development and prosperity, and our privileged direction in building a community with a shared future for mankind. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 last year, neighboring countries have lent helping hands to China, a testament to the verses "Miles apart but close at heart." The prime minister of Cambodia and Pakistan's president paid special visits to China, and Mongolian president donated 30,000 sheep as a token of support to Wuhan city. A 10-year-old Mongolian child studying in China donated 999 yuan ($156) to Wuhan city and another two areas of China which were relatively seriously affected, expressing support for China's COVID-19 epidemic fight. We are all deeply moved by the kindness. There is a Chinese saying: "A favor of a drop of water should be repaid with a surging spring." Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the international community, including neighboring countries, has provided valuable support, and of course, we should return the favor. Thanks to the leadership of President Xi Jinping, and under the coordination of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council and the direct command of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and the National Health Commission have proactively coordinated and launched timely humanitarian aid. We have done the following work.
First, meeting urgent needs. Emergency relief demands urgent action. Although providing foreign aid has its own procedures, we have to handle urgent and difficult cases with creative thinking and special measures. At the end of April, South and Southeast Asia saw a resurgence of COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant. China launched an emergency plan to support neighboring countries fighting the pandemic. To overcome difficulties such as shortages of goods and production schedules, we donated emergency supplies including oxygen cylinders, as well as oxygen generators and ventilators to Nepal, Afghanistan, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and other countries. Within several days, we sent a team of medical experts to Laos and delivered anti-epidemic materials to Nepal.
Second, providing various support. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has supported neighboring countries in their fight against the pandemic through numerous means, such as donating medical supplies and vaccines, sending medical experts, holding online meetings, and setting up reserves of anti-epidemic materials in South Asia. Ever since China achieved notable success in slowing the spread of the virus, we have gained invaluable experience and time for the world and didn't disappoint neighboring countries. So far, China has donated multiple batches of anti-epidemic materials and more than 80 million doses of vaccines to neighboring countries and regions, especially sending out groups of vaccine experts over 10 times while holding over a thousand of video conferences to share our experience and trained foreign medical staff, which had direct beneficial effects.
Third, moving the anti-pandemic barrier forward. Since last year, Ruili, a China-Myanmar border city in southwest China's Yunnan province, has been closed three times due to the pandemic. We have worked with domestic departments and Myanmar's government to donate anti-epidemic materials and vaccines to northern Myanmar. By establishing an effective mechanism to curb any cross-border spread of the virus, the epidemic in northern Myanmar has been controlled, and China's approach to preventing the coronavirus from entering the country and stemming a domestic resurgence has been guaranteed, with benefits that extend into anti-epidemic, diplomatic and political areas.
Fourth, strengthening good neighborliness. China's emergency aid to neighboring countries is still underway. A friend in need is a friend indeed. China's timely and efficient assistance, first, has played an important role in helping relevant countries control the pandemic, protect people's lives and reduce property losses. Second, it has contributed to domestic epidemic prevention and control. Third, it has enhanced traditional and people-to-people friendship between China and neighboring countries. Fourth, it is in sharp contrast to the indifference of some major countries towards epidemic control in other countries. We are glad to see that many foreign political leaders attended the handover ceremony of China's donations at the airport. Some leaders took the lead in receiving Chinese vaccines, and a lot of foreign media outlets praised Chinese vaccines as "timely rain." During the past two years, we've often worked overtime and met extraordinary situations with extraordinary perseverance, receiving recognition from both leaders and society. Thank you.
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Beijing Youth Daily:
What's the progress of China's COVID-19 assistance to Africa, Latin America and the South Pacific region? What measures will be taken in the future? Thank you.
Zhou Liujun:
China and countries in Africa, Latin America and the South Pacific region enjoy a history of profound friendship and share weal and woe together. We are good partners, good friends and good brothers on the path of development. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, China upholds the values of greater good and shared interests and follows the principles of sincerity, affinity, good faith and real results. Under the framework of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and China-CELAC Forum, we have cooperated in areas such as health, agriculture, education and green development, and achieved remarkable results in building an even closer China-Africa and China-Latin America community with a shared future.
Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held in 2018. The sudden outbreak of the pandemic brought us a severe test. We have actively responded to multiple impacts of the pandemic and provided support and assistance within our capacity to African countries and the African Union (AU), to aid their economic and social development, mainly in the following aspects.
First, conducting anti-pandemic cooperation. We immediately donated more than 120 batches of testing reagents, ventilators and other anti-pandemic supplies, while providing vaccines to 50 African countries and the AU, and sending medical expert teams to 17 African countries.
Second, supporting economic recovery. We have implemented nearly 400 assistance projects across various fields. Despite the impact of the pandemic, nearly 10,000 Chinese engineers, technicians and medical workers remain in their posts. Likewise, hundreds of assistance projects have already been implemented, which provide strong support for African countries to resume work and production.
Third, advancing project cooperation. We have fully implemented the "eight major initiatives" introduced at the FOCAC Beijing Summit. Construction on the headquarters of the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) began ahead of schedule at the end of last year. Other projects that China provided aid for such as a children's hospital in Senegal and a center for treatment of infectious diseases in Mauritania's Nouakchott National Hospital were successfully completed and handed over to local governments. Such key medical projects have played an important role in African countries' fight against the epidemic. An additional 50 Chinese assistance projects in each of the six areas of industrial promotion, health, peace and security, green development, trade promotion and people-to-people exchanges will all be completed soon.
Fourth, reducing and canceling debt to alleviate African countries' financial burden.
Fifth, improving capabilities. We have trained more than 25,000 talents and technical personnel for African countries, and cooperated and shared experiences with 45 hospitals in 40 African countries. The governments and people of those nations expressed their sincere appreciation for China's help and cherish China as a true friend of Africa.
China also provided assistance to Latin American countries and island countries in the South Pacific region. We have carried out a large number of assistance projects covering transportation, agriculture, animal husbandry and fishery, infrastructure, culture, education and health, and trained more than 50,000 managerial and technical personnel in various fields, which strongly supported regional economic and social development. More specifically, since the outbreak of COVID-19, China promptly provided anti-epidemic materials and vaccines to countries in need. To date, 53 batches of anti-epidemic materials and 28 batches of vaccines have been delivered to relevant countries. Chinese experts communicated with other countries' medical staff and shared their experiences during video conferences. We have actively implemented the G20 debt relief initiative and helped those countries alleviate their debts.
Next, besides deepening anti-pandemic cooperation, we will focus our foreign cooperation on public health, trade promotion, connectivity, poverty alleviation and benefiting rural workers, digital innovation, green development, peace and security, capacity building and similar fields. Through promoting small but beautiful, advantageous and effective projects, China vows to deliver the benefits of assistance to people of recipient countries, work together to fight against the pandemic, and accelerate economic and social recovery, so as to make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind. Thank you.
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Bloomberg News:
The first question is about the debt issues in Africa. What is the best way to resolve the problems African nations are facing? Secondly, what steps China is taking, if any, to join Paris Club?
Zhou Liujun:
I'll continue and answer the questions about the debts of African nations and joining the Paris Club.
Debts in Africa have attracted much attention. It's a long-standing historical issue. The reasons are complex and not only include changing factors such as the international economic environment but also external reasons such as the rise of protectionism and appreciation of major reserve currencies. Over the past two years, the issue of debts in Africa has become more prominent due to the impacts of COVID-19. China has always paid great attention to debt-related pressures faced by African countries. We always respect the will of African countries in terms of financing cooperation and wish to meet their needs. When we offer interest-free loans and preferential loans, we have fully considered the debt situations and repaying capabilities of recipient countries, adhered to the laws and regulations, done our work in an open and transparent manner, and never sought political gains.
In the process of cooperation with Africa, we have been committed to pursuing the greater goods and shared interests and upholding the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity, and good faith for developing relations with other developing countries. We have dealt with issues on loans and debts relief in Africa through friendly consultation. China and Africa have a shared future and are facing the difficulties together brought by the pandemic. President Xi and leaders of relevant African countries convened the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19 and announced a series of important measures such as support of the development of relevant African countries and debt suspension and reduction. China has actively promoted and fully implemented G20's Debt Service Suspension Initiative, signing debt suspension initiatives or reaching consensuses with 19 African countries. China has exempted the least developed countries, heavily indebted poor countries, landlocked developing countries, and small island developing countries in Africa from interest-free loans due at the end of 2020.
We believe that the solution to Africa's debt problems lies in development, and development holds the key to solving all of its problems. It is necessary for African countries to enhance their capacity for independent development and achieve sustainable development. China-Africa cooperation has always been a benchmark for South-South cooperation, and it is also recognized as a model of international cooperation with Africa. According to incomplete statistics, China has built more than 6,000 kilometers of railways, more than 6,000 kilometers of roads, nearly 20 ports, and more than 80 large-scale power facilities in Africa. As an old Chinese saying goes, "To get rich, build roads first." The transportation infrastructure has injected vitality into the development of the African economy. We have also assisted in the construction of more than 130 medical facilities, 45 sports venues, and more than 170 schools. During the pandemic, many Chinese engineering technicians are still sticking to their posts in Africa to ensure the China-Africa key cooperation projects run safely and to provide strong support for the resumption of work and production in African countries.
As I said, the issue of Africa's debt has attracted much attention and people have various opinions. Meanwhile, we have noticed that some media are peddling allegations that China's loans have created an "invisible debt trap." I can tell you that these are erroneous statements. Many Western, Asian, and African governments, scholars, and research institutions have undertaken detailed investigations on these issues. Not a single developing country has fallen into debt traps due to China's loans. Facts and statistics have fully revealed that allegations "China causes debt trap for Africa" are simply out of political, motives aiming to drive a wedge between China and Africa. I think, regarding China's support for Africa, only African governments and people have the right to speak.
Now for the second question, as to whether China will join the Paris Club. Currently, China is not a member of Paris Club, but we have participated in some of the Paris Club activities as a non-member, and communication with the member countries of the Paris Club has been smooth.
In the next step, China will adhere to the multilateral debt handling principles of "joint action, fair burden sharing, individual cases handling, and multilateral consensus," strengthen communication and cooperation with all parties, work together to help African countries deal with debt problems and work with Africa to step up the implementation of fruits of the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, accelerate the promotion of cooperation projects that meet the urgent needs for the development of African countries, and further strengthen the indigenous driving force for the African economy. At the same time, we proposed that developed countries, multilateral financial institutions, and private creditors match their words with actions, and do more things that are beneficial to the development of African countries and other developing countries. We will work together and complement each other's advantages, and sincerely support developing countries, including African countries, to achieve sustainable development and bring real benefits to local people. Thanks.
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Southern Metropolis Daily:
What is the overall situation of the Chinese government's foreign aid in the fight against the pandemic, and what's the next plan? What basic role has China's vaccine assistance played for recipient countries? Compared with the vaccine assistance of the US and the West, what are the characteristics of China's vaccine assistance?
Deng Boqing:
Thank you for the question. In March of last year, I introduced the
anti-COVID assistance situation to you on behalf of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA). Now one and a half years have passed, the pandemic is still raging worldwide. I checked the data today. So far, the cumulative confirmed cases worldwide have exceeded 244 million, the cumulative number of deaths is over 4.96 million, and fatality rates have reached 2%. Therefore, in such a special period, countries in the world should help each other more than any time to overcome these difficulties together. Under the personal leadership and deployment of President Xi, China has taken the lead in both epidemic fight and economic recovery. Meanwhile, we uphold the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and actively carry out international cooperation in the fight against the epidemic. We have carried out the most concentrated emergency humanitarian assistance on the most wide-reaching scale since the founding of the People's Republic of China. Let me show you some figures.
In terms of material assistance last year, we provided a large number of anti-epidemic materials such as masks and protective clothing, as well as a large number of medical materials such as ventilators and oxygen cylinders, spanning more than 150 countries and 13 international organizations. We have provided a large number of nucleic acid testing reagents and equipment. We have also sent 37 batches of medical experts to 34 countries, organized technical guidance, and shared anti-epidemic experience with other countries. We have also donated US$50 million to the World Health Organization and US$50 million to UN agencies and other relevant international organizations.
This year, we have fully implemented President Xi's promise to make Chinese vaccines global public goods. So far, we have provided more than 1.5 billion doses of vaccines to 106 countries and four international organizations. Many heads of states thanked President Xi, saying that China's precious support and help is a vivid portrayal of "a friend in need is a friend indeed" and has set a model for international cooperation in COVID-19 response. More than 30 presidents and premiers received Chinese vaccines at the airport and attended handover ceremonies. More than 10 foreign leaders took the lead in receiving a shot of Chinese vaccines. International media have praised the Chinese vaccine as "timely rain."
Now there is also a voice in the international community that questions the safety and effectiveness of Chinese vaccines. There are so many heads of state that spoke highly of and welcome Chinese vaccines. In our work, we have also noticed that the safety and wide use of Chinese vaccines have been widely recognized. The World Health Organization has included Sinopharm vaccines and Sinovac vaccines on the emergency use list, a recognition from the professional and authoritative international organization. From the practical view, first, the safety and effectiveness of Chinese vaccines have been fully verified through the large-scale vaccination in China. Second, the international community has full confidence in Chinese vaccines. International scientific research and clinical data from various countries also provide strong support. We have read some materials and collected some typical data. For example, in Sri Lanka, 95% of the population produced antibodies after receiving two doses of the Sinopharm vaccine, and 81.25% of the population could produce vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies. The Sinopharm vaccine is effective against the Delta variant of COVID-19. The infection rate after people in Dominica were inoculated with Sinovac vaccines was only 0.04%. In Indonesia, 96% of medical workers vaccinated with Chinese vaccines were exempt from hospitalization, and 94% were exempt from infection. It can be said that China's foreign aid and vaccine exports have made positive contributions to the world, establishing an immune barrier for various countries.
In the next step, we will continue to implement President Xi's important commitments. This year, we will strive to provide two billion doses of vaccine to the world, donate another 100 million doses of vaccine to developing countries, and donate US$100 million to the "COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX)." We are willing to work with the international community to advance international vaccine cooperation and promote the building of a global community of health for all. Thanks.
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People's Daily:
What role do China's foreign aid projects play in addressing climate change and promoting global green development? Thank you.
Zhang Maoyu:
Climate change is nature's alarm bell to humanity, and China is acutely aware of this. President Xi Jinping made a statement at the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly. He announced that China aims to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. This is a major strategic decision made by China that considers both domestic and international situations. It demonstrates China's responsibility in actively addressing climate change and building a community with a shared future for mankind, and it shows China's determination to pursue green, low-carbon and high-quality development.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, by offering foreign aid, we have helped to enact the South-South cooperation commitments concerning climate change, actively joined the international community on climate change action and supported developing countries' response to the challenges of climate change. During the last eight years, we have implemented more than 200 foreign aid projects that address climate change. Among them, there are about 70 climate change mitigation projects, including the solar power supply project at the Parliament Building of Pakistan, the green development project for the Addis Ababa river bank in Ethiopia, and others. Likewise, there are about 150 climate change adaptation projects, which include projects responding to floods in Nepal, hurricanes in Fiji, and tropical cyclones in Mozambique. We have also conducted 80 seminars on climate change topics and trained nearly 2,000 relevant personnel.
Next, foreign aid will focus on promoting green development to help developing countries improve their coping strategies for climate change. First, we will enhance project support and execute climate change environment protection projects. We will optimize clean energy and desertification prevention and control projects such as photovoltaics, biogas, and hydropower stations. Second, we will focus on environmental factors, strengthen the assessments of environmental protection and climate change factors in foreign aid projects, and promote the transition of projects to ones that are climate-friendly. Third, we will step up financial cooperation, strengthen coordination between the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund and other funds – which include the special fund for Lancang-Mekong cooperation, the China-Africa Development Fund and the South-South Climate Change Cooperation Fund – to create synergy. Fourth, we will strengthen coordination and cooperation between central and local governments, leverage the geographical advantages of Yunnan, Tibet and other border provinces and areas, and provide assistance to neighboring countries in cross-border water resource management, nature reserve construction and more. Fifth, we will host experience exchanges and support developing countries as they take actions to maintain safe boundaries for nature. We will also encourage green recovery, green production and green consumption, promote a harmonious existence between man and nature, and let a sound ecology and environment be the inexhaustible source of sustainable development. Thank you.
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CRNTT:
Some part of overseas public opinion suggests that China's foreign aid has not been transparent enough. What measures has the Chinese government taken to increase the transparency of its foreign aid projects? Thank you.
Zhou Liujun:
China's foreign aid has always been open and honest. I should emphasize that a press conference like this one, in which chairman Luo Zhaohui instructs the whole team to take initiative and release information and interact with friends from the media, demonstrates that we prioritize the promotion of foreign aid and increased transparency. Chinese leaders have repeatedly expounded on China's foreign aid policies, concepts, the overall situation and significant measures at major international occasions, such as the UN conferences, the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
In recent years, the Chinese government has presented its foreign aid situation through the release of white papers. The first white paper was issued in 2011 by the Chinese government, and it provided a comprehensive and systematic introduction to China's foreign aid policies, funds, methods, distribution and management. In 2014, we issued the second white paper on foreign aid. This white paper gave a comprehensive and objective introduction to aid funds, methods and distribution between 2010 and 2012. In January this year, which marked the third anniversary of the establishment of the CIDCA, we took the opportunity to issue a white paper entitled "China's International Development Cooperation in the New Era." It focuses on the international community's interests in China's international development cooperation and outlines China's principles and policies for international development cooperation following the 18th CPC National Congress. Moreover, it highlights the positive contributions China's international development has made in terms of building a community with a shared future for mankind in the new era. It also proactively responds to the international community's concerns.
I want to emphasize that, after the establishment of the CIDCA, we immediately launched an official website, WeChat public account and overseas social media accounts. Friends from the media have been welcome to visit and browse. The channels are an easy way for the public at home and abroad to get information about China's foreign aid. We will continue to explain the foreign aid situation to the public and release relevant information and data in a timely manner through the various channels. Thank you again for your concern, interest and support. Thank you.
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China Daily:
Recently, the CIDCA has conducted a series of publicity activities, which include commemorating the 70th anniversary of China's foreign aid, the 20th anniversary of Juncao Assistance, and the fifth anniversary of the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund and the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development. These activities have attracted extensive attention from the media and the Chinese people. Could you introduce the background and significance of these activities? Thank you.
Luo Zhaohui:
I'm very glad that you followed our events. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. We still remember that at the end of May this year, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held a group study session, and President Xi Jinping once again called on everyone to tell China's stories well. For this purpose, the CIDCA took the initiative to design these activities. The first event was to commemorate the 70th anniversary of China's foreign aid, and introduce its history, a glorious chapter of the 100th anniversary of the CPC. Since the founding of the CPC, during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, China has received support and help from Communist International and many global progressive forces. In the 1950s, we also received great help from the Soviet Union and a lot of support from socialist countries. We were a recipient from the beginning. At the same time, we reciprocated by providing foreign aid from the very beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The 71-year history of foreign aid is a glorious chapter of the CPC and epitomizes the love and friendship that the Chinese government and Chinese people have shown to other countries. The photo exhibition on the 70th anniversary of China's foreign assistance is a macro reflection of the history of China's foreign aid since the founding of the People's Republic of China. And the exhibition also highlights the original aspiration of the CPC to seek common development in the world and contribute to the cause of human progress.
We would also like to note that besides the photo exhibition, we also held an event celebrating the 20th anniversary of Juncao assistance. Just like hybrid rice, the technology of Juncao, Chinese herbal medicine and green food, has become a shining example of China's foreign aid. Many developing countries have been confronted by salient issues relating to agriculture, rural areas and farmers. Twenty years ago, President Xi Jinping, then governor of Fujian Province, made important instructions on and personally worked for the introduction of Juncao technology to Papua New Guinea for poverty alleviation. Since then, along with the goodwill of the Chinese people, Juncao has made its way across the world, from Africa to Latin America, from Asia to South Pacific. We have launched over 270 Juncao technology training courses with more than international 10,000 trainees, bringing hundreds of thousands of jobs to local people. Even some government officials, in commemoration of the magic grass, named their children "Juncao."
Just now, our media friends mentioned activities celebrating the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund and the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development (ISSCAD), announced by President Xi Jinping at the United Nations in 2015 and started operation in the following year. The Institute was set up in Peking University with well-known economist Justin Yifu Lin acting as Honorary Dean. Over the past five years, it has become a high-end academy with more than 200 masters or doctors received from over 60 countries, yielding great results. South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund has closely worked with over 10 international organizations within the UN system by launching more than100 projects which help significantly improve the people's wellbeing among 50 countries, benefiting over 20 million people. The Fund has had a real contribution to the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by its efforts to fight everything from the Ebola virus to COVID-19, as well as advancing the healthcare system for women and children and addressing refugee and immigrant crisis.
As China's important public goods, the fund and the institute have become significant global brands for China to promote South-South cooperation and sustainable development under the support from all sides. This demonstrates that China's foreign assistance and international development and cooperation are transparent. The China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) was found on April 18, 2018, from the name of which it can be noted that China is willing to be in line with the rest of the world. We used the term of international cooperation and development to replace that of foreign aid used by the international community including the United Nations in the past, a move to put emphasis on bilateral cooperation rather than one-side assistance. What we mainly take into consideration is whether it meets the needs and development strategies of participating countries. What we have done, from working with the UN system to launching commemorative activities, aim to boost transparency in our foreign assistance. Any country or any politician without prejudice will recognize our efforts to strengthen collaboration with the international community and accelerate the transition from bilateral aid to multilateral cooperation.
The fund and the institute mentioned are fine examples. Besides South-South cooperation, which means the developing countries help each other, we also pursue North-South cooperation. China has done lots of work to cooperate, communicate and coordinate with the United Nations and western developed countries.
Thank you all!
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Phoenix TV:
A recent American research report on Chinese project abroad under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) points to many major problems like corruption, labor violations, environmental risks and public protests, causing that participating countries' willingness is fading. What is your comment on this? Besides, what is China's role in foreign assistance and international cooperation regarding the BRI? Thank you!
Luo Zhaohui:
This is a very good question. To build a community with a shared future for mankind is the essence of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, and the BRI cooperation has been considered as an important platform. President Xi Jinping on Sept 21 proposed a Global Development Initiative, which was highly spoken by the UN. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the UN would support and cooperate closely with China to further promote the Initiative when he met with President Xi yesterday via video link.
This question has also attracted much attention. I will invite my colleague Deng Boqing to answer it.
Deng Boqing:
Thank you for your question. As the most significant platform for building a community with a shared future for mankind, the BRI highly resonates with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and has been widely recognized by the international community. To date, up to 140 partner countries and 32 international organizations have signed documents on Belt and Road cooperation with China. Over 90 bilateral mechanisms have been established.
We follow the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and champion the philosophy of open, green and clean cooperation, in a bid to make Belt and Road cooperation high-standard, people-centered and sustainable. With regard to a blueprint and specific project for the BRI, we always act in the spirit of broad participation and equal negotiation in a public and transparent way and take a "zero tolerance" approach to corruption. Recently, President Xi Jinping announced that China would not build any new coal-fired power plants abroad, which are highly praised by the international community.
It is our important responsibility to serve the BRI. President Xi Jinping announced a series of foreign assistance measures at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), including that China will provide assistance worth 60 billion yuan to developing countries and international organizations participating in the BRI and China will launch 100 "happy home" projects, 100 poverty alleviation projects and 100 health care and rehabilitation projects in countries along the route. We have fully implemented these measures and make greater efforts to support the BRI. The overall effects of China's foreign assistance are on a consistently upward trajectory.
Since the pandemic, some projects have been affected. However, it is an indispensable obligation for China to help other countries fight against COVID-19 and restart development. During the pandemic , China has stepped forward to inject impetus into the implementation of the Agenda for Sustainable Development. Instead of hitting the "pause" button, we have continued to jointly build the BRI despite challenges and promote global development and cooperation with great zeal. We noticed that during the pandemic, a series of major projects such as the China-Laos Railway and the Hungary-Serbia Railway made breakthrough progress. Meanwhile, China-Europe freight trains and traffic volume throughout the year expanded 50% and 56% year on year, respectively. In addition, China's non-financial outbound direct investment to countries along the BRI rose by 18.3% year on year.
We will continue to act according to our capability and try our best to help those countries in need without any political conditions by the principle of equal treatment and mutual respect, to better serve the Belt and Road Initiative. Thank you.
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ThePaper.cn:
How does the China International Development Cooperation Agency feel about carrying out triangular cooperation with Western countries and international organizations in development assistance? Thank you.
Zhang Maoyu:
Thank you for raising such a good question. China not only recognizes the importance of providing bilateral aid to developing countries but also the importance of carrying out triangular and multilateral cooperation with Western countries and international organizations in this regard. We have always held a positive and open attitude towards carrying out international development exchanges and triangular cooperation. As a developing country, we will continue to explore triangular development cooperation with related parties, enrich cooperation modes and paths, and improve cooperation level and capacity. Our proposals are as follows: First, we should foster global development partnerships that are more equitable and balanced. We will actively implement the Global Development Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, and adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities in international development cooperation while enhancing the role of North-South cooperation as the main channel and South-South cooperation as a beneficial supplement. Second, we should tap into our respective strengths and steadily advance triangular cooperation. We should respect the policies, ideas and modes of all parties, and enhance mutual understanding and trust in the spirit of mutual respect, sharing experiences, complementing each other and learning from the strengths of others. Third, we should respect the sovereignty and leading role of recipient countries. We should uphold the principles of aid projects demanded, agreed to and led by recipient countries, and the criteria should be based on whether recipient countries welcome or not, agree or not and are satisfactory or not. The focus should be on meeting the needs of recipient countries for humanitarian aid and aid concerning people's livelihood and employment, and strengthening their capacity for development.
It has been more than three years since the establishment of the China International Development Cooperation Agency. During this time, we have advanced dialogues and consultation, participated in international meetings and activities including the Second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation and the European Development Days, and conducted exchanges including visits with more than 10 countries and regional organizations including Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Britain, France, Norway and the European Union. In recent years, under the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund, China has cooperated with a number of UN organizations, such as the United Nations Development Programme, the World Food Programme, the UN Refugee Agency and the UNICEF. China has conducted development cooperation projects in more than 50 countries in the fields of food assistance, post-disaster reconstruction, refugee relief and health care for women and children. Moreover, China has launched triangular cooperation projects with Switzerland, Portugal, Britain, the United States, Australia and New Zealand that meet the needs of recipient countries in agriculture, health care and other areas concerning people's livelihood.
Next, we will continue to explore triangular cooperation with an open and pragmatic attitude, and also encourage the private sector, non-government organizations and charities to play a bigger role in providing new momentum for international development cooperation.
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HK Economic Herald:
My question is for Mr. Luo. Since China began international cooperation against the virus, the China International Development Cooperation Agency has received much attention. Can you talk about its functions and focuses as a newly established agency?
Luo Zhaohui:
Thanks for your question. The agency was set up three and a half years ago, and is directly affiliated with the State Council. Frankly speaking, it is better known abroad than at home. Many friends at home found the name of the agency, China International Development Cooperation Agency, confusing, as it contains both "China" and "international," so I am happy to take this opportunity to introduce it.
Some of the points I and my colleagues just mentioned already reflect the main responsibilities and functions of the agency. Specifically, directly affiliated with the State Council, the agency is responsible for drafting foreign aid policies and plans, approving foreign aid projects as well as supervising and assessing the implementation. We need to evaluate the necessity, possible problems and effects of a project and deal with the problems that might arise in the implementation. We are also responsible for coordinating efforts on major foreign aid issues and promoting reforms of foreign aid methods. This is a major decision of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council after the 19th CPC National Congress to promote the cause of foreign aid. Over the past three and a half years since its establishment, the agency has enacted reforms and optimized its setup while performing functions, thus giving China's foreign aid work in the new era a new look with new efforts and results.
First, we have made significant achievements in guaranteeing China's overall diplomacy. With serving head-of-state diplomacy as our top priority, we have participated in a series of President Xi Jinping's important bilateral and multilateral foreign affairs activities and proposed a number of impressive and feasible aid initiatives, which have seen results. Second, we have made notable progress in guiding South-South cooperation. We have strengthened the synergy of aid projects with the development plans of recipient countries, and launched aid projects in the fields of health care, education and culture, poverty relief and capacity building to enhance the economic and social development of recipient countries and the lives of their people, thus contributing Chinese strength to the implementation of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We joined hands with other countries to cope with global challenges such as natural disasters and food crises, and provided emergency humanitarian aid more than 150 times. While providing assistance for fighting against the virus, we also provided emergency humanitarian aid in response to floods and food crises. Third, we have made new progress in supporting domestic development. We have given play to the leveraging and guiding role of foreign aid in boosting trade, investment and opening up at a higher level under the Belt and Road Initiative. We assisted recipient countries in their building of centers for inspection and quarantine, and provided their customs with commodity inspection equipment. We also encouraged good Chinese enterprises, products and technologies to go global based on the demand of recipient countries. Fourth, international exchanges and cooperation have born rich fruit. As we just stated, we held three important activities to mark the 70th anniversary of China's foreign aid, the 20th anniversary of the Juncao Assistance and Sustainable Development Cooperation, and the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund and the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development respectively. President Xi Jinping sent congratulatory letters to the latter two activities, which demonstrated the importance that Chinese leaders and the Chinese government attach to South-South cooperation and China's resolution to implement the sustainable development agenda as a responsible major country. These activities have received much attention from the international community and UN organizations. We released the white paper titled "China's International Development Cooperation in the New Era," and established relations with more than 50 countries and international organizations. Fifth, we have continued to deepen foreign aid reforms. We implemented new ideas for foreign aid, focusing on projects that can have timely and remarkable effects on people's livelihood though not large in scale. We strengthened the integrated design of soft and hard assistance and amplified the combined effects of projects. We sped up the process of enacting, amending or repealing laws and regulations and formally released 24 normative documents including the Measures for the Administration of Foreign Aid. According to the requirements of achieving optimization, coordination and efficiency, an inter-ministerial foreign aid coordination mechanism involving 25 departments was set up to strengthen coordination and unified management of foreign aid across all fields and departments. Here, I must stress that foreign aid projects are launched based on strict approval procedures and criteria instead of doing it at will. During the implementation of a project, strict supervision is required. After a project is completed, strict assessment is required. We established the Department of Supervision and Evaluation three years ago, which ensures the transparency, quality and honesty of our projects and that each project can deliver a satisfactory report.
Some Western countries, including the United States, have never stopped slandering and smearing the Belt and Road Initiative as well as our international cooperation against the virus. Since the founding of New China, more than 700 foreign aid workers have died in foreign countries. Our foreign aid workers fear no hardship, act with a sense of responsibility and demonstrate heroic spirit. The new era calls for a new sense of responsibility, and we will continue to fulfill our duties and pursue innovation to promote the high-quality development of our foreign aid work.
Of course, we should never forget where we came from, no matter how far we go. Over the past 71 years, our foreign aid work has adhered to our own ideas and principles, and had distinctive Chinese characteristics. First, equality and win-win cooperation. Second, honoring commitments and seeking concrete outcomes. We never make empty promises and always stand by our word. We contribute according to our ability and never try to be a savior. However, as long as we make a promise, we will do our best to fulfill it no matter how difficult it is. Third, focusing on development and believing that it is more important to show people how to fish rather than just giving them fish. Fourth, openness and inclusiveness, exchanges and mutual learning.
Next, we will make health the priority of our foreign aid and international development cooperation, and do our best to support international cooperation against the virus. We will focus on green development and continually implement the sustainable development agenda. We will also focus on people's livelihood and contribute to global economic recovery. Taking multilateralism as a guide, we will continue to improve global governance in the field of development cooperation. These will be the focus of our foreign aid and international development cooperation work going forward.
I hope that you will learn more about the agency, and I also welcome Chinese and foreign media friends to visit the agency. Our agency can work together with the State Council Information Office to organize activities for an Open House. This is an invitation to you all. Thank you all.
Shou Xiaoli:
Thank you, Mr. Luo, and thank you all. Today's briefing is hereby concluded. Goodbye, everyone.
Translated and edited by Zhang Rui, Zhang Liying, Lin Liyao, Wang Qian, Gao Zhan, Liu Qiang, Yan Xiaoqing, Wang Yiming, Zhang Tingting, Ma Yujia, Yang Xi, Yuan Fang, David Ball, Drew Pittock, and Tom Arnstein. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.
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