Chinese premier urges greater understanding of Africa

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao on Monday warned of the threat to global order from poverty, diseases like HIV/AIDS and western political dominance. “It is all too clear that world peace and development cannot possibly be sustained if the north south divide grows wider and developing nations grow poorer,” he said at the start of a two-day China-Africa summit in Ethiopia. “Hegemonism is raising its ugly head,” the Chinese premier told some 800 officials. “Regional conflicts are going on unabated.” “And non-traditional security problems, such as terrorism, communicable diseases, environmental degradation and aggravating poverty have become more prominent,” he stated. Wen threw down the gauntlet to rich nations which, he said, must “devote more care, pay more attention and give more understanding towards African nations”. “Economic globalisation, while bringing development opportunities to all nations, is also posing unprecedented challenges to the developing world,” he said. “The developed countries have the obligation and responsibility to further open their markets, eliminate trade barriers and farm subsidies and earnestly fulfil their commitments to developing countries through more aid and debt relief.” He then announced a raft of trade deals and proposals to boost China-Africa trade, including zero tariffs on certain goods, increased aid levels and debt cancellation. His visit to Ethiopia – which is seen as China’s continued efforts to woo and become the champion of Africa - is part of a four-nation 10-day world tour which started in the US. Wen also promised Chinese support to African nations through its seat at the UN Security Council, adding that Chinese support came with no strings attached. “We do offer our assistance with the deepest sincerity and without any political conditions,” he said. Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano, the current chairman of the African Union, welcomed the support offered by China during the continent’s independence struggles against colonialism. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi also welcomed relations with China. “We all know and appreciate that China’s policy towards Africa has been based on the principles of mutual respect and equality,” said Meles, a vocal critic of western trade barriers. Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe launched an explosive attack on the west. He warned of the “dangerous drift towards the abyss” of US-dominated world affairs and called for developing countries to openly embrace China. “The west feels triumphant, believing it can make and unmake, dismantle and occupy sovereign states at will, loot their economies as it seeks to remake the world after its own image,” he said. Wen – on the first ever visit by a Chinese premier to Ethiopia since diplomatic relations were established in 1970 – has held talks with Prime Minister Meles and is due to meet a number of other African leaders.