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Hu vows more aid for Africa despite crisis

By Li Xing (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-02-14 08:11

President Hu Jintao and Mali President Amadou Toumani Toure (left) review a guard of honor upon Hu's arrival in the Mali capital of Bamako on Thursday. [Xinhua]

China will continue to increase its aid to Africa despite the impact of the global financial crisis, President Hu Jintao announced in Bamako on Thursday.

China will also, within its capability, reduce or cancel African countries' debts, expand its trade and increase investment in Africa, fulfilling the commitments it made during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2006, Hu said.

He made the pledges while meeting the press with Mali President Amadou Toumani Toure.

While acknowledging that China's economic development also faces many difficulties due to the economic turmoil, Hu said the grave challenges of economic crisis makes it all the more important for China and Africa to cooperate with each other.

China will also call for the international community to pay close attention to the adverse effect of the global economic slowdown on Africa and honor their pledges of aid to the continent, Hu said.

China-Mali relations

Hu arrived on Thursday local time in Mali, the second leg of his current "Journey of Friendship and Cooperation".

After a grandiose welcoming ceremony, Hu exchanged views with Toure over bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common concern.

During the talk, Hu made several proposals to cement the two countries' 49 years of friendship and cooperation.

While continuing high level exchanges, Hu said the two countries should also expand such interactions between the two governments, parliaments, military and non-government organizations, to enhance mutual political trust.

He said the Chinese government will continue to encourage competent Chinese firms to invest in Mali and strengthen bilateral cooperation in telecommunications, agriculture and infrastructure construction, including the third sugar processing factory in Mali and the No 3 bridge in Mali's capital.

The two countries will set up a joint committee on economy, trade and technology to improve collaboration.

To expand cultural exchanges, Hu said China welcomes Mali to display its ancient civilization and culture at the World Expo in Shanghai next year.

He told the media China will offer 34 additional scholarships for Mali students to study in China, and help train 65 professionals.

China will also ensure the completion of 10 centers for women and children and furnish a new center for the treatment of malaria, which Hu will unveil today.

Hu also said China will work with Mali and other African countries to prepare for the fourth China-Africa Cooperation Forum.

For his part, the Malian president said his people are proud of their brotherly friendship with the Chinese.

China helped Mali to make its first step toward modernization since its independence in 1960, Toure told the media.

"The collaborations between Mali and China are fruitful and of high quality," he said. "All the major projects that have appeared in Mali have borne the Chinese mark."

As all countries are facing the global financial crisis, Toure said Mali and Africa need China's assistance and he is thankful for China's pledge to continue providing the support.

Hu on Friday met with President of the Malian National Assembly Dioncounda Traore on deepening cooperation and friendship with the country.

Hu said China's National People's Congress (NPC) and Malian National Assembly have maintained close ties and good cooperation for a long time and have set up bilateral friendship teams promoting exchanges between the NPC and Malian National Assembly and deepening friendship between the two countries.

He expressed the hope that the NPC and Malian National Assembly would continue to maintain friendly exchanges and consultation on democratic and legal construction to push forward broad-ranging relations.