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| Central African Republic (CAR) President Faustin-Archange Touadera |
The 2018 Beijing
Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was a “great
success,” and the eight major initiatives unveiled at the summit will
help Africa develop, Central African Republic (CAR) President
Faustin-Archange Touadera told Xinhua.
The summit “was a real success overall and also bilaterally for the
CAR,” said Touadera. “We also appreciate the eight initiatives proposed
by the Chinese leader. It is one of the most important commitments and
decisions of the summit … which will help African countries to develop.”
The former math researcher-elected-president still teaches at Bangui
University every week for lack of competent teachers in the CAR. Of the
eight major initiatives, which include industrial promotion,
infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation and green development,
Touadera said he was “absolutely” interested in the capacity building
initiative.
“To develop a country, we start with the training of its cadres. By
doing so, China helps us to improve the level of our cadres, to train
them to be very useful to their country,” said Touadera. “This
initiative is to be hailed by all our young people.”
According to statistics from the United Nations, after years of instability, nearly 2.5 million people,
representing more than half of the CAR’s population, need humanitarian
assistance. As a result, Chinese experts will soon be coming to the CAR
to engage in agricultural and security cooperation as part of the eight
major initiatives.
Researchers at China’s Fujian Agriculture
and Forestry University (FAFU) will help local farmers in mushroom
cultivation using advanced Chinese know-how that has already benefited
other African countries such as Rwanda.
The simple technology transfer from China will improve local farmers’
living conditions and enhance their nutritional quality, said Touadera,
referring to the industrial promotion initiative where China will
support Africa in achieving general food security.
Touadera, who has been advocating national reconciliation since
taking office, said cooperation in police training with experts from
China’s Fujian Police College is part of the peace and security
initiative.
“We are looking for stability, and the search for stability requires
the training of our internal security forces,” said Touadera, adding
that in terms of security, “we expect to have exchanges with China and
the support of China.”
“Of course, there is not only the security side, there is also the
development side … several themes of cooperation with China will help
address security issues in the CAR,” he said.
Asked about the fear of some observers of the over-indebtedness of
African countries to China, Touadera said, “Africa needs means for its
development.”
“Africa needs capital for its development. Without funding, it will
be difficult for countries like the CAR that have a lot of
difficulties,” he said, describing China’s financial support as “a very
good initiative that we salute.”
China-Africa cooperation is “a frank, win-win, and really very
fraternal partnership” that is voluntary and based on the development of
the two peoples, said Touadera, mentioning China’s “five-nos” approach
to African affairs.
During the Beijing summit, China announced that it follows a
“five-nos” approach in its relations with Africa: no interference in
African countries’ pursuit of development paths that fit their national
conditions; no interference in African countries’ internal affairs; no
imposition of China’s will on African countries; no attachment of
political strings to assistance to Africa; and no seeking of selfish
political gains in investment and financing cooperation with Africa.
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