"'It smells so good! I can't believe that the biscuits are made of pure millet!' This is always what our African partners would say when they visit our millet processing plant in Burkina Faso," Zhao Hanqing, deputy general manager of Zhongdi Overseas Agricultural Development Co, told the Global Times.
Zhao said farmers are motivated to grow more after they realize that there is market demand, which is increased through industrialization.
"Africa has a lot of idle land and abundant agricultural labor, but farmers are reluctant to expand planting. They ask, what happens if you grow more than you can eat or sell? The difficulty was that no one further processed or commercialized the crops, and that's why we set up the processing factory," said Zhao.
Processed food, with more added value, can be shipped longer distances, which can promote the development of cultivation in reverse, staffers at Chinese agricultural firms that have set up food processing plants in Africa told the Global Times.
"It is relatively difficult for agriculture to develop and modernize rapidly in Africa if primary agricultural products are not processed to add value," said a representative of a Chinese firm that built a modern agro-industrial park in Abuja, Nigeria. There are oil extraction, rice processing and cassava processing plants in the park.
Chinese coffee importers are also seeking chances to build agro-industrial parks in Africa to promote coffee exports while providing African coffee products with more added value.
"We are planning to organize a business tour to Africa with several other coffee importers to explore if we can set up agro-industrial parks for coffee bean processing," a Changsha-based Chinese coffee importer surnamed Xiao said.
African agricultural development needs systemic support.
For example, China helps Africa build infrastructure projects and open up logistics links so that farmers can have markets to absorb their increased crops, Chinese agricultural experts who participated in the "Small Technology, Big Harvest" project in Africa told the Global Times.
With the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) being held in Beijing from Wednesday to Friday, unfounded "debt trap" allegations against China-Africa cooperation are circulating once again.
Having celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been widely welcomed by global communities, including those in Africa. It has achieved significant milestones, particularly in improving infrastructure, investment, and trade across African countries.
A total of 52 African countries and the African Union have signed memorandums of understanding with China to jointly advance the BRI, according to media reports. Experts said this is a vivid example of how African countries are voting with their feet when it comes to the initiative.
On the occasion of the FOCAC summit, foreign envoys, reporters, and experts have collectively rejected the "debt trap" rhetoric being propagated by Western media targeting the BRI and China-Africa cooperation. They have also praised the notable achievements in social and economic development in African countries, where the BRI has played an important role.
False allegations
Western criticisms of China-Africa cooperation and the BRI have intensified ahead of the FOCAC summit. This ill-intentioned attempt to undermine China-Africa ties has met with strong opposition from Chinese experts, as well as African representatives participating in the forum.
In a recent interview with the Global Times, Tanzania Ambassador to China Khamis Mussa Omar said that Africa has been raising its voice on the need for broader reform when it comes to international development financing architecture. The BRI, which has injected new impetus in trade and investment cooperation, has extended a critical helping hand on this regard, he said.
These words reflect the stance of many Africans regarding the positive outcomes of the BRI.
Chinese experts said that allegations of the BRI causing a "debt trap" are groundless. They argued that the "debt trap" narrative is an attempt by some Western media outlets and politicians to undermine the positive outcomes of China's win-win cooperation with African countries.
"Some Western countries have frequently accused China-Africa cooperation of being a 'debt trap,' which reflects their doubts about the capabilities of African countries to manage their internal affairs independently. This, in turn, is an insult," Ma Hanzhi, assistant research fellow at Department for Developing Countries Studies, China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times.
In recent years, African countries have faced difficulties in accessing financing, which has hindered efforts to develop the continent. With investment and support from Chinese companies, many roads and houses have been constructed, and power stations and electricity networks have been established to address key issues such as electricity shortages that impede social and economic development in these countries, experts noted.
Instead of attributing all these positive outcomes to cooperation, many Western media outlets and politicians have concocted the "debt trap" theory, which is unjustified and lacks a factual basis, Ma said.
In an official response to the "debt trap" narrative, Shen Xiang, an official from China's Ministry of Commerce, stated at a recent press conference on August 20 that China has never been the main creditor behind African debt.
Data from the International Monetary Fund indicates that among Africa's external debt, commercial bonds and multilateral debt account for 66 percent of the total, while China-Africa bilateral debt constitutes only 11 percent.
"Some people are making unfounded claims about Africa's debt issue, and these criticisms lack a factual basis," Shen said.
Experts noted that a significant portion of Africa's debt consists of private debt, for which the US bears much of the responsibility. In recent years, some Western countries relaxed borrowing conditions, leading to a surge of capital inflows into Africa. However, with the recent increase in US interest rates, capital outflows have intensified Africa's debt challenges, Ma said.
In a previous interview, Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar praised the BRI for helping to build roads, provide electricity, and create much-needed jobs for his country. Tuggar refuted the Western media narrative that the BRI has led to a "debt trap" in developing countries, calling the notion of China's attempt to influence Africa through the BRI "an insult" to African nations.
Real benefits
In stark contrast to the false propaganda and conditional aid offered by some Western countries, China has brought real changes to many African countries without imposing any political or economic conditions, as highlighted by solid evidence.
The latest data shows that the bilateral trade volume between China and Africa reached a historic $282.1 billion last year, making China Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years.
Speaking at a press conference for FOCAC on Tuesday, Lin Honghong, director general of the Department of International Relations of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said that by the end of 2023, China's direct investment in Africa had exceeded $40 billion, making it one of the largest sources of foreign investment on the African continent.
Moreover, in the past three years, Chinese companies have created over 1.1 million local jobs in Africa.
"These figures clearly demonstrate that China-Africa economic and trade cooperation continues to maintain a strong development momentum," Lin noted.
Commenting on the achievements, Samuel Ayammah, a reporter from the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, told the Global Times at the forum on Wednesday that the BRI benefits many African countries, including his home country Ghana.
"When you look at the projects under the BRI and the kind of collaboration between China and Africa, I'm sure it's good," Ayammah said, noting that the cooperation is based on mutual respect.
Rugare Mukanganga, a data and economic analyst at Development Reimagined, highlighted another important aspect of China-Africa cooperation, stating that through principles such as non-interference in domestic affairs, it presents a non-coercive model that empowers African countries to chart their own course.
"African countries collaborate with China due to the significant benefits it has brought to the social and economic development of the continent." Ma said.
He emphasized that, more importantly, China-Africa cooperation is rooted in mutual respect and interests, without imposing any additional conditions as some Western countries do, reflecting the choices and decisions of the African people and their governments.
As the BRI has entered a new stage of high-quality development, China will further advance its reforms and opening-up, aiming to build a more open global economy. Experts said that in this context, China-Africa cooperation is facing new opportunities.
Cranes sway their giant arms, railway tracks crisscross, containers are stacked up... walking in the Guoyuan port in Southwest China’s Chongqing, one can feel the strong pulse of the mountainous city’s development. And for foreign journalists, seeing the bustling activities up close brings fresh understanding of China’s economic story.
During several field trips organized by the All-China Journalists Association, nearly 100 heads of journalists’ organizations and media representatives from 50 countries and regions witnessed Chongqing’s thriving industries, after visiting local logistics hubs, tourist attractions and intelligent automotive manufacturing factories.
As some Western media outlets step up their smearing campaign targeting China, some foreigners’ perception of China has been clouded, though they have never been to China.
However, hearing about something 100 times is not the same as seeing it once. The mountainous city blends traditional culture and modern development, showing the vitality and charm of China in the midst of incessant reform and opening-up. For foreign journalists, a visit to Chongqing city is not merely an assignment, but also an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of China’s diversity and Chinese modernization.
A number of journalists were struck by the stunning natural beauty as they saw three massive natural stone bridges in the Fairy Mountain in Wulong district. Marveling at the breathtaking karst landscape there, the strong connection between local residents and the nature also amazed them.
When they were impressed by local government’s efforts to promote tourism and protect ecologic diversity, they can personally witness how China upholds the principle that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" and strives to maintain harmony between humanity and nature in the country’s pursuit of modernization in the past many years.
When taking the bus to Guiyuan town in Wulong district, foreign journalists were attracted by signs erected on the mountain promoting rural vitalization efforts.
At first, they did not fully understand the meaning of the slogan. After they saw a small town deep in the mountains gradually embarking on the road to prosperity by taking advantage of local scenery to develop tourism, they got to know the true meaning of rural vitalization.
Visiting Guiyuan town, foreign journalists experienced tie-dyeing and tasting local tea. They saw local young people return home to start their own businesses, and farmers can also earn more money by making coffee and operating homestay industry.
As they sat in the local library, sipping coffee and enjoying the magnificent landscape, they truly appreciated China’s efforts and achievements in promoting comprehensive rural revitalization.
Meanwhile, the journalists felt the country’s efforts to develop green industry in China’s leading electric vehicle (EV) maker Seres Group’s super factory.
During a visit to the intelligent auto manufacturing factory, they couldn’t wait to get into the newest model of Seres vehicles for a test driving and turn on the engine to learn about China’s EV technology. While walking through the welding workshop, they observed that each assembly procedure was carried out smoothly and precisely, with minimal human involvement.
When they were told that a new car rolls off the assembly line every 30 seconds, they were amazed at the efficiency of the factory and deeply appreciated the development speed and modernization level of China’s manufacturing industry.
Enjoying the Two-River Cruise on the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, the journalists were impressed with an unforgettable experience when taking in Chongqing’s cityscape at night.
Looking from the cruise ship to the shore, they saw the brightly lit buildings and the traffic flow of the streets. At that moment, they appreciated the actual economic vitality of the city.
Through the Chongqing trip, the foreign journalists deeply experienced the diversity and inclusiveness of China. They hailed the development model of the city - increasingly driven by green development and new quality productive forces.
Chinese modernization aims to promote green and low-carbon ways of production and life by adjusting and improving the structure of the industrial, energy, and transportation sectors, pursuing high-quality development built on a healthy, sustainable nature.
Moreover, China is working with other countries to foster an international environment that is conducive to development and creating new drivers for global growth.
If foreign journalists, or anyone from around the world, want to truly understand China, the best way is to experience it firsthand. As the proverb says, seeing is believing.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday met with Kenyan President William Ruto, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
China's Liu Hao and Ji Bowen claimed the men's canoe double 500m gold medal at the Paris Olympics here on Thursday.
The pair clocked one minute and 39.48 seconds, ahead of Italy's Gabriele Casadei and Carlo Tacchini who took the silver in 1:41.08. The bronze went to Joan Antoni Moreno and Diego Dominguez from Spain who finished in 1:41.18.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has sent some of its main combat aircraft to Thailand as the two countries' air forces ready to kick off a joint exercise on Sunday, with experts saying that friendly and confrontational exchanges between pilots from the two sides will boost military mutual trust as well as enhance skills.
Ahead of the Falcon Strike-2024 joint air force training exercise, scheduled to be held from Sunday to August 29 according to the Royal Thai Air Force, all participating Chinese forces have arrived at the Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base and conducted adaptative flight training sessions on Friday, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.
According to the CCTV report, the PLA Air Force has sent multiple types of military aircraft including the Y-20 large transport aircraft, the J-10C fighter jet, the J-10S fighter jet and the JH-7A fighter bomber.
Observers said that these warplanes are some of the PLA Air Force's mainstays in air transport, air-to-air combat and air-to-ground combat.
It is expected that the two countries' warplanes will hold confrontational exercises, and pilot exchanges between the two air forces are anticipated to deepen mutual trust and enhance skills, Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation expert, told the Global Times on Sunday.
In the exercise, the Thai side will likely deploy the Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet of European origin, according to Fu.
While not shown in the CCTV report footage and thus not knowing the exact type, the report said that the Chinese side also sent helicopters.
When the Chinese Defense Ministry announced the joint exercise last week, it noted that there would be Chinese special operations forces taking part in the drill.
It explains the deployment of helicopters, as the special operations units will likely practice aerial assaults on valuable ground targets such as air fields, air defense positions and command centers during the joint exercise, observers noted.
Falcon Strike-2024 marks the seventh joint training exercise between the Chinese and Thai air forces, CCTV reported.
The exercise is aimed at enhancing the tactical levels and skills of both sides' participating forces, as well as strengthening pragmatic exchanges and cooperation between the two countries' militaries, the Chinese Defense Ministry said.
On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the outbreak of mpox constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), which carries the potential to spread further across countries in Africa and possibly outside the continent. The following day, Chinese medical experts underscored the importance of international collaboration in containing the spread of the disease across borders.
The declaration was made by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, given the upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa, per a news release from the WHO website.
This marks the second PHEIC determination made by WHO, relating to mpox, in two years. Official data showed the number of cases reported in the DRC so far this year has exceeded last year's total, with more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths.
WHO's determination came after the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Tuesday officially declared the ongoing mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security.
According to the Africa CDC on Tuesday, at least 13 African countries, including previously unaffected nations Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, have reported mpox outbreaks. Suspected cases across the continent have surged past 17,000, a significant increase from 7,146 cases in 2022 and 14,957 cases in 2023. "This is just the tip of the iceberg when we consider the many weaknesses in surveillance, laboratory testing and contact tracing," read the Africa CDC press release.
WHO's declaration of a public health emergency of mpox is mainly aimed at strengthening global cooperation between countries and regions to prevent the disease from developing into a larger pandemic, Zhuang Shilihe, a Guangzhou-based medical expert who closely follows public health issues, told the Global Times on Thursday.
The symptoms of mpox are much clearer, with visible skin rashes and other symptoms, making it theoretically easier to control and discover compared to respiratory infectious diseases, according to Zhuang. It is hoped that with increased international support and resources, including support for vaccine development, the spread of the disease can be contained, Zhuang noted.
Prevention and control of mpox should focus on early detection, reporting, isolation and treatment to prevent the spread of the disease. Adherence to principles of combined prevention and control, precise measures and rapid response is crucial in effectively managing outbreaks, Lu Hongzhou, head of the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, told the Global Times on Thursday.
Men who have sexual relations with men in Asia are considered a high-risk group for mpox. It is important to prioritize prevention and control measures for this high-risk group to prevent transmission to the general population, Lu said, noting that the public does not need to panic.
Most cases in China have had mild symptoms, but individuals with compromised immune systems or advanced cancer may experience severe illness or even death, according to Lu.
China issued a mpox prevention and control plan in July 2023 to optimize the country's measures against the infectious disease. The plan calls for multi-channel effective monitoring of medical institutes, key groups and international arrivals.
Additionally, local health and disease control departments, along with relevant social organizations, should fully draw on the experience and service model of comprehensive intervention for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, and carry out peer education at key activity venues such as bars, clubs and baths frequented by men who have sexual relations with men, according to the plan.
China and Indonesia held their first Senior Officials' Meeting of the Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue on Tuesday.
Experts believe that cooperation between Beijing and Jakarta will set an example for other ASEAN member states while contributing to stabilizing the situation in the South China Sea.
As agreed between China and Indonesia, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Weidong and Deputy Director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of the Central Military Commission Zhang Baoqun led a delegation to Jakarta on Monday to attend the first Senior Officials' Meeting of the China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue.
Sun and Zhang and their Indonesian counterparts Abdul Kadir Jailani, Director General of Asia-Pacific and African Affairs at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Brigadier General Oktaheroe Ramsi, Secretary Directorate General for Defense Strategy at the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, co-chaired the Dialogue in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The two sides exchanged in-depth views on China-Indonesia relations, diplomatic and defense strategic cooperation and reached a series of consensuses.
The senior officials' meeting marks the official launch of the "2+2" mechanism between the two countries and a new level of strategic mutual trust between the two countries. The two sides spoke highly of the development of China-Indonesia relations and expressed their willingness to strengthen communication and coordination, continuously enhance bilateral political and security cooperation and friendly mutual trust, and push for new progress in the building of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future.
China also expounded stances and propositions on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns such as Taiwan question and the South China Sea. Indonesia congratulated China on the successful convening of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, reiterated its firm adherence to the one-China principle, and advocated properly managing differences through peace negotiations and maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.
Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times that 2+2 ministerial dialogues usually take place only between partners or countries with close relations and high strategic mutual trust.
This senior officials' meeting is expected to pave the way and create better conditions for talks among higher level officials in the future, Qian said.
Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times that the meeting will also likely address the relationships between China and ASEAN, and China's support for ASEAN's centrality in the region.
The two sides are also expected to discuss the negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, with a view to reaching an agreement on the COC as soon as possible. In addition, the two sides will likely continue to focus on the Belt and Road Initiative and discuss ways to strengthen economic and trade cooperation under the framework of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the upgraded China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, Chen said.
Chen believes that given the fact that China and Indonesia share a common understanding in various areas, the two sides will also discuss various issues, ranging from Indonesia's support for the one-China principle and clean energy to conflicts elsewhere in the world.
The 2+2 dialogue came after the Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto visited Beijing this April, with observers saying that the visit was crucial not only for the development of bilateral relations for at least the next five years, but also injects positivity and stability into the whole ASEAN region.
According to the Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun also met with Prabowo during the visit. Dong said the Chinese military is willing to work with the Indonesian military to consolidate their strategic mutual trust, promote joint exercises and training, and enhance personnel exchanges to take their practical cooperation to a new height.
Chen said that China and Indonesia have established smooth mechanisms for joint exercises and defense exchanges, and the two countries will set an example of cooperation between China and other ASEAN member states.
Meanwhile, military cooperation in general contributes to enhancing mutual trust in security between the two countries. More importantly, the cooperation between the two sides will serve as a positive signal for stabilizing the situation in the South China Sea, Chen said.
The China-Indonesia 2+2 dialogue takes place shortly after the Philippines continued to ignore China's sincere efforts to calm tensions by sending an air force aircraft to illegally enter the airspace over China's Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island) in the South China Sea on Thursday, a move that was met with professional and legitimate responses by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command.
Chen said that Indonesia is also worried about the current tensions in the South China Sea, which will make Jakarta more concerned about the deterioration of the regional security environment as the worsening situation in turn will probably compel Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries to take sides in the competition between major powers.
Chen said that Indonesia is likely worried that the Philippines' cooperation with the US and other Western countries may impact the unity of ASEAN.
Considering the above-mentioned facts, Indonesia will likely try to play a mediating role between the disputing countries. In addition, Indonesia will likely try to forge a solid consensus within ASEAN members, as it does not want to see ASEAN divided on the South China Sea issue, Chen noted.
