Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar meet the press in Abuja, Nigeria, Jan. 9, 2025 (Xinhua/Yang Zhe)
ABUJA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to work with Africa for the Global Security Initiative to take root on the continent and jointly build a peaceful and secure modernization, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Thursday.
China stands ready to work hand in hand with Africa to build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, he added.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a joint press conference with his Nigerian counterpart Yusuf Tuggar.
In response to a question about how China will assist Africa in maintaining peace and stability, Wang emphasized that mutual cooperation is essential to addressing various security challenges in today's world.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit, highlighted peace and security as key components of the six major proposals and 10 partnership actions for China and Africa to jointly advance modernization, said Wang.
China will firmly support Africans in seeking African solutions to African problems. The African people are the true masters of the African continent, and have the wisdom, ability and right to solve their own problems, he added.
China opposes any form of external interference in the internal affairs of African countries, supports the African Union and sub-regional organizations in playing a constructive role, and encourages major African nations to take more leading actions to resolve conflicts and differences through dialogue and consultation and address hotspot issues through political means, said Wang.
China will firmly support Africa in strengthening its peace and security capacity, establish and implement with African countries a Global Security Initiative partnership, create demonstration zones for the initiative, and advance security-building partnership actions, said Wang.
China will also provide 1 billion yuan (about 136 million U.S. dollars) in non-reimbursable military assistance to African countries. Additionally, China will help train 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 law enforcement officers for African nations, said Wang.
China will also continue to support the building of the African standing army and rapid-response forces, as well as support African countries in conducting peacekeeping and counterterrorism operations, said the foreign minister.
Voicing China's firm support for Africa in safeguarding its legitimate interests, Wang called for practicing genuine multilateralism and warned against hegemonism and power politics making waves in Africa.
China's vote in the UN Security Council always belongs to Africa, he said, pledging that China will, as always, speak up for the legitimate demands of African countries on multilateral occasions.
As the second-largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget, China will continue to support UN peacekeeping operations in Africa, he added.
China will firmly support Africa in promoting security through development, Wang said, adding that China is ready to work with Africa to carry out 10 partnership actions, make good use of the 360 billion yuan (about 51 billion dollars) of financial support announced at FOCAC Beijing Summit, deepen cooperation in various fields, help African countries eliminate the breeding ground for insecurity, so as to achieve long-term stability through development and revitalization.
As a major African country and the rotating chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Nigeria plays an important role in maintaining peace in West Africa and the Sahel region, Wang said.
He voiced China's support for Nigeria in uniting regional countries, seeking strength through unity, building synergy through reconciliation, promoting security through development, as well as safeguarding regional peace and stability.
China is also ready to make contribution within its capacity to this end, he added. ■
