BEIJING – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that his country gives top priority to helping African countries at this time to counter the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and achieve economic recovery.
In statements to MENA on Sunday, Wang added that China and Africa enjoy strong ties, citing that the volume of bilateral trade over the past 20 years increased by 20-fold, while Chinese direct investments in Africa rose by 100-fold.
He went on to say that China-Africa cooperation is a model for South-South cooperation and a good example of international cooperation.
With regard to China’s support of African states to fight against the coronavirus epidemic, Wang explained that Beijing has so far offered some 120 batches of emergency medical supplies to Africa, dispatched medical experts to 15 African countries, and provided coronavirus vaccines for 35 African states, as well as the African Union Commission (AUC).
He stressed that China would continue cooperation with Africa within the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), with a view to pushing forward development and attaining economic recovery on the African continent.
Wang revealed that a new round of FOCAC is due to be held in Senegal later this year.
