BEIJING, Sept. 3,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2024 Summit of the Forum on
China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will be held in Beijing from September
4 to 6. It takes place at a critical juncture when the world
is grappling with various regional and global crises and there is a
pressing need for countries from the Global South to join hands.
How will this year's FOCAC elevate ties between China and
Africa? What is the significance
of building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future? The
Global Times (GT) interviewed a number of former officials and
pundits from various African countries to share their insights and
stories.
In the third article of this series, GT reporter Wang Wenwen
interviewed Melha Rout Biel (Biel),
executive director of the Institute for Strategic and Policy
Studies, South Sudan.
GT: What is your expectation for this year's FOCAC?
Biel: This year, we have a lot of expectations for FOCAC. The
agenda of this year's FOCAC is expected to focus on geopolitics,
debts sustainability, innovation, climate change and climate
financing. These are very useful areas.
Geopolitics is very important. Nowadays, we have a lot of crises
in the world such as the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Ukraine-Russia conflict. We have a lot of issues that
need to be addressed. Therefore, it has become increasingly
important to engage and use peaceful means to settle problems,
rather than military ones.
Another issue is climate change. As I'm speaking, I am in
South Sudan. Here, we have had a
lot of floods for the last six years. That shows how important
climate financing is. Regarding innovation, we have a lot of
challenges in Africa, especially
in my country South Sudan. You
must have the tools, the knowhow, or somebody to teach you how to
do things, and innovation is very important too. China has become
very innovative in many areas, with its efforts to go green. We
visited a number of factories in China and we were very impressed with what
they are doing there, without causing damage to the
environment.
With respect to debt financing, China has done a lot to support
Africa, but there is also
criticism about debts. A loan is an agreement between two parties.
If you take out a loan and say, "I'm going to pay the loan back in
five or 10 years," you are supposed to prepare yourself to make
sure that you pay them back in time. But in most circumstances, it
is not the case. The problem lies with the people who are taking
out the loans, not China.
All in all, we have high expectations for this year's FOCAC. I
hope that besides the agenda, contracts and agreements can also be
signed by the heads of state and participants there.
GT: How do you view China's engagement with the African
continent in the past few years?
Biel: I'm quite sure it has been a positive development. I've
been traveling to different parts of Africa in the last two years. If you look
around, you will see there are a lot of activities going on, for
example, roads and bridges are being constructed. And most of the
construction firms are either Chinese or use money from China. We
need development in terms of a road network throughout Africa, and China is trying to invest to make
that happen.
GT: What is the key for China-South
Sudan relations?
Biel: When we talk about China-South
Sudan relations, first of all, we have to remember that
South Sudan is an oil-dependent
country. We depend on oil for 98 percent of our income. China needs
oil. We had a war between 2013 and 2020, after which almost
everyone left South Sudan, but
China stayed. We are benefiting from each other.
Also, we have a lot of students from South Sudan going to China for education.
China has helped South Sudan to
print textbooks for primary education.
South Sudan has a lot of
resources, but we have not explored them now because of the
instability we have. Chinese peacekeeping forces in South Sudan are good for us. You can't do
business when there is a war.
Furthermore, South Sudan
supports the one-China principle and takes an active part in
China-proposed initiatives such as
the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative.
Meanwhile, China has offered support to South Sudan at international occasions such as
calling for the UN to lift sanctions.
We have a lot of mutual interests, and I'm quite sure if we have
stability in South Sudan, we can
become even more closer with China. For example, we need China in
terms of agriculture. We don't want to be oil-dependent anymore. We
can invest in agriculture and I know China has very good
technology.
GT: Both China and African countries are Global South countries.
What do you think of China's role in defending and promoting the
interests of the Global South?
Biel: China is a very powerful country in many areas. China's
voice is very important. It helps the Global South to stand firm in
defending their interest.
We are very thankful for China to take the lead on this. There
are a lot of things that can be done if the Global South stands
together. I'm quite sure that China is not alone, Africa is not alone. Others ignoring this is a
big shame. It is going to influence world politics. Many countries
are now opening their eyes to see the benefits of being a member of
the Global South.
GT: Have you taken note of the concept of "Chinese
modernization"? How does "Chinese modernization" offer experiences
to Africa?
Biel: I think Chinese modernization is a very interesting
concept. I read about the history of China's opening-up and have
taken part in seminars organized by different Chinese institutions.
In China, people have a firm commitment to what China wants to be.
This is what is missing in many third world countries.
In my eyes, Chinese modernization has many components. For
example, China is now becoming cleaner. Across the country, China
is winning the fight against pollution and becoming greener. While
we have modernization, we also have to take better care of the
environment.
Technology plays a very important role in modernization. If we
support modernization, Africa must
also make sure that we support technology development. We need
people with great minds, good scientists and young people who are
flexible and can learn new things. This is a long-term investment.
I know it took China a long time to come to where it is today.
In this year's FOCAC summit, industrialization is one of the key
points. Africa aims to achieve
industrialization, so I think China's industrialization and China's
opening-up are something that we can learn a lot from, not only as
a country, but also as a continent.
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SOURCE Global Times