Beijing’s new ambassador to Pretoria says South Africa will benefit when China’s anti COVID vaccine goes out to the world.
Chen Xiadong was speaking at a webinar hosted by the National Press Club on the third volume by Xi Jinping on the governance of China and the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
Introducing the envoy, Press Club chairperson Val Boje refers to China as an important global force and friend of Africa and South Africa that had lifted 1,4 billion people out of poverty.
Ambassador Chen says Chairman Xi’s book covers reform, development, stability, the state, foreign affairs and defence matters.
Xi talks about promoting win win cooperation with all countries including South Africa and rest of Africa to achieve a prosperous common future for all mankind.
China has since 1953 drawn up and implemented five year plans. It currently has identified and is working on medium term objectives up until the year 2035.
Chen says China has become the major trading partner of 138 countries by observing an approach of people first, leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, new paradigms, shared property and government proficiency.
As it grows, China presents greater opportunities to countries doing business with it.
“China’s door is opening and it will open even wider,” he says.
“In ten years, China has imported goods worth more than $22 trillion.”
CODID has taken the world by surprise.China is the first country to have overcome it and restored economic growth.
It has sent medical terms to 32 countries providing care, expertise, medicine and personal protection equipment.
“We are developing a vaccine and countries of Africa will be the first to benefit from it, “he says.
Chen says China has a special bond with South Africa. Chairman Xi has made three state visits to South Africa.
South Africa plans an important role in the Forum for China Africa Cooperation which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
The webinar heard that China plans to strengthen exchanges and its shared future with Africa.
This will encompass a China-Africa community of health for all as envisaged the the extraordinary China-Africa summit on COVID 19.
Common development will cover 5G communications, the digital economy, smart cities and clean and health environment.
“Chairman Xi says having clear water and green mountains is as valuable as having mountains of gold and silver,” says Chen.
Working for a shared ,prosperous future for all mankind, China will relieve pressure on African countries’ debt repayments as they battle to recover economically from the pandemic.