Remarks by Foreign Minister Qin Gang?at the Completion Ceremony?for the China-aided Project of the Africa Center?for Disease Control and Prevention Headquarters
秦刚部长在中国援建的非洲疾控中心总部项目竣工仪式上的致辞
Addis Ababa, 11 January 2023
2023年1月11日,亚的斯亚贝巴
Your Excellency Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African?Union Commission,
尊敬的非盟委员会主席法基先生阁下,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,
尊敬的各位来宾,女士们,先生们,朋友们:
It gives me great pleasure to attend the completion ceremony for the Africa CDC headquarters, a flagship project of China-Africa cooperation announced by President Xi Jinping at the FOCAC Beijing Summit in 2018. Like the AU Conference Center, it is yet another landmark of China-Africa cooperation. At the outset, I wish to extend warm congratulations to the AU, and to the African countries and peoples. I also want to thank the AU Commission and the Ethiopian government for their strong support, and pay high tribute to the Chinese and African engineers and workers who have participated in the project.
很高兴出席非洲疾控中心总部竣工仪式。非洲疾控中心总部项目是习近平主席在2018年中非合作论坛北京峰会上宣布的对非合作旗舰项目,是继非盟会议中心后中非合作的又一标志性项目。首先,我谨向非盟、非洲国家和人民表示热烈祝贺!向非盟委员会和埃塞俄比亚政府给予的大力支持表示感谢,向参与建设的中非双方工程技术人员致以崇高敬意!
I learned from my colleagues about the many challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to the project during construction. But our two sides have surmounted the difficulties and topped out the buildings ahead of schedule. This is indeed a new miracle in China-Africa cooperation. I believe with the joint efforts of our two sides, the Africa CDC will make greater contribution to public health in Africa and the health and wellbeing of the African people. It will also write a new, splendid chapter in the history of China-Africa relations.
听我的同事讲,疫情给项目施工带来很多挑战,但中非双方克服困难,提前实现项目封顶,创造了中非合作新的奇迹。我相信,在中非双方共同努力下,非洲疾控中心必将为非洲卫生事业和人民健康福祉做出更大贡献,在中非关系史上写下新的绚丽篇章。
This is my first overseas trip, and my first visit to Africa and the AU headquarters as the Chinese Foreign Minister. This is also the 33rd consecutive year that the Chinese Foreign Minister visits Africa on the first overseas trip of the new year, which is a fine tradition of China's diplomacy. With this opportunity, I wish to reiterate that strengthening solidarity and cooperation with African countries will always be a diplomatic priority for China. No matter how the international environment changes, China and Africa will always be a community with a shared future.
此次访问是我担任中国外长以来首次出访、首次访问非洲和非盟总部,也是中国外长连续第33年新年首访来到非洲,延续了中国外交的优良传统。借此机会,我愿重申,加强同非洲国家的团结合作,始终是中国外交的优先方向,无论国际风云如何变幻,中非双方永远是休戚与共的命运共同体。
Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,
女士们,先生们,朋友们,
We are in the 10th year since President Xi Jinping put forth, in 2013, the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, and of pursuing the greater good and shared interests for China's relations with Africa. Over the past decade, with the joint guidance and commitment of Chinese and African leaders, China-Africa relations have made historic achievements that impressed the whole world, and entered a new era of building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future. President Xi Jinping has visited Africa four times. The FOCAC Summit has been held twice. Our two sides have worked together to advance the ten cooperation plans, eight major initiatives and nine programs. Our cooperation against COVID-19 has delivered good results. All this embodies the vibrant spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation.
今年是2013年习近平主席提出真实亲诚对非政策理念和正确义利观10周年。10年来,在中非领导人共同引领和推动下,中非关系取得了举世瞩目的历史性成就,进入构建高水平中非命运共同体的新时代。习近平主席四次访问非洲,中非合作论坛两次举行峰会,中非双方携手落实“十大合作计划”、“八大行动”、“九项工程”,抗疫合作成果丰硕,中非友好合作精神熠熠生辉。
China has remained Africa's largest trading partner for 13 years in a row. Two-way trade in 2022 is expected to exceed 260 billion US dollars. Once again, China's imports from Africa grow faster than its exports to Africa. Fifty-two African countries and the AU Commission have signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with China. Landmark projects like the AU Conference Center, the Africa CDC headquarters, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway and the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway keep emerging. Joint projects of highways, electricity, communications and ports span across Africa. Such cooperation has helped enhance Africa's capacity for independent and sustainable development.
中国连续13年成为非洲第一大贸易伙伴国,2022年中非贸易额预计突破2600亿美元,中国自非洲进口额增速再次超过对非出口增速。52个非洲国家和非盟委员会同中方签署“一带一路”合作文件,非盟会议中心、非洲疾控中心总部、蒙内铁路、亚吉铁路等标志性工程不断涌现,公路、电力、通讯、港口等合作项目遍布非洲,增强了非洲的自主和可持续发展能力。
As the new year begins, everything takes on a new look. China will embark on a new journey to build a modern socialist country on all fronts, and the AU and African countries will also embrace the celebratory moment of the 60th anniversary of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). At this new historical starting point, I wish to make a four-point proposal on the development of China-Africa relations.
新年伊始,万象更新。中国将全面开启建设社会主义现代化国家的新征程,非盟和非洲国家也将迎来非洲统一组织成立60周年的庆祝时刻。站在新的历史起点上,我愿就中非关系发展提出四点建议:
First, let us intensify our in-person interactions and connectivity of ideas. The pandemic will be over, and we can see light of hope ahead. China will continue to follow the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, and of pursuing the greater good and shared interests. We will expand exchange and cooperation with Africa in various fields and at all levels, including between the governments, legislatures, political parties, militaries and localities. We will encourage Chinese companies and people to come to Africa for investment and tourism. We will provide more facilitation to restore two-way personnel exchanges at a faster pace. African political leaders, AU Commission officials at various levels and Africans in the political, business and academic circles are most welcome to visit in due course. China supports South Africa in its rotating BRICS presidency, and supports Uganda in hosting the Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement. China will work with Africa to further deepen experience sharing and mutual learning on governance and development, and firmly support each other on issues concerning our core interests and major concerns, to lay a solid foundation for building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.
一是加快推进中非实体交往和理念相通。疫情终将过去,曙光就在前面。中方将继续践行真实亲诚理念和正确义利观,同非方扩大政府、立法机构、政党、军队、地方等各领域、各层级交流合作,鼓励中国企业和公民赴非投资和旅游,为加快恢复双方人员往来提供更多便利。中方欢迎非洲各国政要、非盟委员会各级官员以及非洲政商学界人士适时访华,支持南非当好金砖国家轮值主席国,支持乌干达办好不结盟国家首脑会议,愿同非方进一步深化治国理政和发展经验交流互鉴,在涉及核心利益和重大关切问题上坚定相互支持,为构建高水平中非命运共同体奠定坚实基础。
Second, let us further deepen the friendly relations between China and the AU. The AU is one of the most influential intergovernmental organizations in the world. It is a banner of African countries seeking strength through unity and of developing countries pursuing progress in solidarity. Over the past six decades, the AU and its predecessor the OAU have led African countries in making proud strides on the path of development, revitalization and integration, demonstrating African strength and winning international acclaim. Both China and Africa have the right and the confidence to achieve greater development and modernization. China will provide Africa with new opportunities through Chinese modernization, and supports the AU in leading African countries in pursuing development paths suited to their national conditions. To help advance African integration, China will continue to work with African countries and the AU Commission to forge strong synergy between Belt and Road cooperation, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping and Agenda 2063 of the AU, the African Continental Free Trade Area and the development strategies of African countries. China is the first country to support the AU in joining the G20, and will encourage the G20 to take robust steps to support a greater role of the AU and African countries in the global governance system.
二是不断深化中非盟友好关系。非盟是世界上最具影响力的政府间组织之一,是非洲国家联合自强、发展中国家团结奋进的一面旗帜。60年来,非统和非盟引领非洲国家在发展振兴和一体化建设道路上阔步前行,展现了非洲力量,赢得了国际赞誉。中非双方都有发展壮大、实现现代化的权利和自信。中方愿以中国式现代化为非洲提供新机遇,支持非盟引领非洲国家走符合自身国情的发展道路,愿同非洲各国和非盟委员会一道,继续将习近平主席提出的共建“一带一路”合作、全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议同非盟《2063年议程》、非洲自贸区建设、非洲各国发展战略深度对接,助力非洲一体化进程。中方率先支持非盟加入二十国集团,愿推动二十国集团采取有力行动,支持非盟和非洲国家在全球治理体系中发挥更大作用。
Third, let us do more to upgrade and elevate China-Africa cooperation. Africa's needs are the priorities in China-Africa cooperation. China will further study how to better align with Africa's development strategies such as the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa and the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme. To give more support to Africa's economic and social development, we will fully leverage the long-term strength of the Chinese economy, speed up the delivery of the outcomes of the eighth FOCAC Ministerial Conference, continue to expand China's trade with Africa, promote high-quality development of China-Africa financing and investment cooperation, and boost the new dynamics in health, green development, the digital economy and other sectors. China makes no empty promises, still less presses others against their own will. When it is handed over to our African friends, the Africa CDC headquarters will be wholly run and managed by the AU without any interference from China. Should the African side have any need, we will do our best to provide support and help.
三是大力推动中非合作提质升级。非洲的需求就是中非合作的重点。中方将进一步研究对接非洲基础设施发展规划、非洲农业发展综合规划等发展战略,充分发挥中国经济长期向好的优势,加快落实中非合作论坛第八届部长会成果,继续扩大对非贸易,推动中非融投资合作高质量发展,拓展卫生健康、绿色发展、数字经济等领域新动能,为非洲经济社会发展提供更多支持。中国从不开“空头支票”,更不会强人所难。我们将把非洲疾控中心总部圆满转交给非洲朋友,由非盟方全权运营管理,中方绝不干涉。如果非方有需要,我们也会竭尽所能,继续提供支持和帮助。
Fourth, let us stand firm in defending the unity and cooperation of developing countries. Today, our world, our times and history are changing in ways like never before. The collective rise of developing countries is irreversible, and the advent of an Asian century and an African century is no longer a distant dream. Both China and Africa should reinforce confidence, strength and self-reliance, uphold humanity's common values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, oppose hegemony, bullying, highhandedness and racial discrimination, and jointly safeguard true multilateralism and promote greater democracy in international relations. We should boost the representation and voice of developing countries, especially those of African countries, in the UN Security Council and other international organizations, pool greater strength for the cause of global development and security, and work together to make the global governance system more just and equitable.
四是坚定捍卫发展中国家团结合作。当前,世界之变、时代之变、历史之变正以前所未有的方式展开,发展中国家群体性崛起的势头不可逆转,亚洲世纪、非洲世纪将不再是遥远的梦想。中非双方要坚持自信自强自立,坚守和平、发展、公平、正义、民主、自由的全人类共同价值,反对霸权、霸凌、霸道和种族歧视行径,共同维护真正的多边主义,促进国际关系民主化,增强发展中国家特别是非洲国家在联合国安理会等国际组织中的代表性和发言权,为全球发展和安全事业汇聚更大力量,携手推动全球治理体系向更加公正、合理的方向发展。
Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,
女士们,先生们,朋友们,
Right behind us is the towering Africa CDC headquarters. It is a new monument built with the traditional friendship and hard work of Chinese and African brothers and sisters. It stands as an irrefutable proof to the world that China always supports Africa with concrete actions and that the China-Africa relationship is bound to have a brighter future.
非洲疾控中心总部已经巍然屹立在我们身后,这是中非双方的兄弟姐妹们用传统友谊和辛勤汗水浇筑起来的新的伟大丰碑,它用无可辩驳的事实告诉世界,中国始终以实际行动支持非洲,中非关系的未来必将更加美好!
During my trip, I visited the AU headquarters, and met with and held the eighth China-AU Strategic Dialogue with Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat. We had an in-depth and candid exchange of views on a wide range of issues of mutual concern and reached a lot of consensus. This has strengthened my confidence in the future of China-Africa relations and China-AU relations. I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank the AU and Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat for the warm and friendly hospitality accorded to me and my delegation.
我这次来,对非盟总部进行访问,并且同法基主席进行了会见和第八次中国非盟战略对话,我们就共同关心的问题广泛、深入、坦诚地交换了意见,达成了许多共识,使我进一步坚定了对中非关系、中非盟关系发展的信心。借此机会,我再次感谢非盟和法基主席给予我和我的代表团的热情友好接待。
May Africa enjoy prosperity and its people happiness!
最后,祝非洲繁荣昌盛、人民幸福安康!
May China-Africa friendship last forever and our cooperation grow from strength to strength!
祝中非友谊万古长青、中非合作蒸蒸日上!
Thank you.
谢谢!