Chinese FM calls for fair, equal, pragmatic int’l cooperation with Africa

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday put forward a three-point proposal for international cooperation with Africa, highlighting fairness, equality and pragmatism.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, made the remarks when meeting the press together with Senegalese Foreign Minister Yacine Fall and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Congo Jean-Claude Gakosso during the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

The FOCAC has evolved into a guiding light for international engagement with Africa. China is glad to see that other countries are now turning their attention to Africa, offering the continent support and assistance, Wang said.

He then proposed three key principles for international cooperation with Africa, hoping to build consensus among all parties.

"Fairness must be upheld. Modernization is not a privilege reserved for a few countries; African countries also have the right to develop. Given the colonial exploitation that Africa has suffered, developed countries, in particular, must shoulder their responsibilities, strengthen North-South cooperation, and increase investment in Africa's development. China will also continue to emphasize South-South cooperation to build international synergy," said the foreign minister.

The international community should respect the development paths chosen by African people themselves, Wang stressed, warning against condescending lecturing.

"Equality should be achieved. It is important to always listen to African voices and respect African people's efforts to explore their own development paths. There should be no condescension or finger-pointing," Wang said.

"Pragmatism should be advocated. It's imperative to honor commitments with concrete actions and bring visible and tangible benefits to the African people through practical cooperation," he said.

Chinese FM calls for fair, equal, pragmatic int’l cooperation with Africa

Chinese FM calls for fair, equal, pragmatic int’l cooperation with Africa

Chinese FM calls for fair, equal, pragmatic int’l cooperation with Africa

Authorities in Shanghai and neighboring eastern provinces have taken tight measures to suspend public activities as Typhoon Bebinca, the 13th this year, landed in the coastal regions on Monday morning.

The most powerful typhoon hitting Shanghai since 1949, Typhoon Bebinca made landfall in Shanghai at around 07:30 on Monday, bringing about 50 millimeters of rainfall by 08:00.

On Monday morning, a hydrological station near the Huangpu River reported that the water level had risen to 4.5 meters, nearing the height of the dyke.

The usually bustling riverbank now stands empty, with only one police vehicle on standby to monitor water levels and address emergencies.

In response to the severe weather, the city's two airports, the Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao Airport, have canceled all flights from 20:00 on Sunday until 14:00 on Monday, with over 900 flights called off and the flight resumption remaining pending.

Additionally, all ferry services, highways and parks have been closed for safety concerns.

Coinciding with the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival starting from Sunday, the Shanghai municipal government has ordered the cancellation of all outdoor festive activities and the shutdown of illuminated attractions.

Uprooted trees are seen along roadsides, and municipal workers have been busy with clearing operations since early Monday morning.

According to the municipal meteorological observatory, the typhoon is estimated to last for 12 hours, with its impact on the metropolis likely to diminish on Tuesday.

In Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, the municipal government elevated the emergency response to Level-1 on Sunday night, marking a rare occurrence for the city.

The city has mobilized a total of 30,000 municipal workers, including electricians and police officers, to be on call in case of any emergency.

Plus, all public bus and food delivery services have been ordered to halt operations. Similarly, construction work citywide have been asked to suspend, with workers evacuated to local gyms for shelter.

Public activities suspended in Shanghai, Jiangsu amid Typhoon Bebinca