Adequate attention, equality and mutual benefits are the basic principles of the China-Africa relationship

When I was working in Africa, some of my friends asked me: "How is it possible that the China-Africa relationship can stay stable in contrast to the changeable international situation? What's the secret?"

To me there is no trick to it. If there is, it comes down to adequate attention, mutual benefits and equality.

Unlike the Western world, China takes the China-Africa relationship as a crucial part of Chinese diplomacy, especially diplomatic relations with developing countries. Even though the relationship has been described with subtle differences in distinctive historic periods, China has never regarded Africa as a burden. The strategy conforms and is consistent.

Sometimes, there may be fine adjustment, yet there is no big change in the general direction of such a relationship.

Also in contrast to the Western countries' disparaging attitude toward Africa, China treats the continent with equality. We regard Africa as our friends and partners. In Li Zhaoxing's memoirs, the former Chinese foreign minister recalls a conversation with former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright in which they decided to pick one word to depict each country's foreign diplomatic relations. The United States chose "donor", while Li opted for "partner".

Li emphasizes the everlasting partnership with Africa rather than being a donor, which demonstrates an equal strategy toward Africa.

We also never prioritize China's benefits over Africa's benefits when it comes to our relationship. In different periods, we have sought mutual, win-win cooperation with Africa.

Adequate attention, equality and mutual benefits - these are the basic principles of the China-Africa relationship, which is distinctive from other big countries.

The development of China-Africa relations has gone through several phases. In the first phase, when carrying out its opening-up and reform, China supported African liberation movements and the continent's economic development.

From the time of the reform policy being carried out until the end of the last century is the second phase. We emphasized diversified forms of mutually beneficial cooperation with Africans in addition to the traditional areas.

The China-Africa relationship has undergone high-speed development in the new century, when the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was initiated. If the development of the previous relationship can be described as driven by low-speed trollies, then later by a four-wheel car, now it must be a high-speed train. We're seeing unprecedented development.

There are of course several challenges about the China-Africa relationship.

The first is that trade and economic relations need to be transformed and upgraded. We're unable to rely on container trade or on exporting raw materials any longer to sustain the relationship, which is characterized by extensive and traditional cooperation.

The transformation is heading toward the direction where we focus more on capacity cooperation and investment management, rather than trade and labor contracts. Although faced with many problems, we are also faced with many opportunities.

Second, China and Africa need to deepen their understanding of each other, as there is not enough at present. Africa does not know much about China, and China's knowledge about Africa is shallow. The saying goes: "The key to diplomatic ties between countries lies in close ties between their peoples, while close ties between peoples are based on their understanding of each other."

If people-to-people exchanges or mutual communication cannot be increased, efforts to deepen development could face more challenges.

The third challenge is how to effectively protect China's interests in Africa.

There have been many comments about China's aid to Africa, some negative, saying that China is splashing money in Africa while the country still has some 100 million people living in poverty. How shall we see this?

The China-Africa relationship is not just about economic and trade ties; it's far more than that. The relationship is also not only bilateral ties, but extends far beyond. It's an important part of China's foreign relations as well as an indispensable part of the country becoming a great power and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

China's aid to foreign countries, in my opinion, has achieved infinite or extraordinary political and economic gains through finite assistance. It has generated mutual benefits, and China is not suffering from losses.

To some extent, the two sides need each other. There are cases where China even needs more help from Africa.

The author is the former ambassador to South Africa and China's first special representative on African affairs. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

(China Daily European Weekly 08/19/2016 page13)