By Li Hongmei
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met and held talks with Ethiopian Foreign Minister, Tedros Adhanom, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as part of his tour to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Wang stressed in the meeting that China's aid to and cooperation with Ethiopia are completely selfless, adding that China has not competed with or crowded out other countries.
The international community should cooperate with Africa and help the continent together and does not approve of "certain countries" who try to compete with others for their own interests and offer aid to Africa out of purely political motives, said the minister, in a veiled attack on Japan's Abe, going on to say that these narrow-minded countries cannot win the hearts of the African people.
The two Ministers discussed ways of strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries and also issues related to peace and security in the African region.
The Chinese Foreign Minister has appreciated Ethiopia's role in ensuring peace and security on the African continent.
He said the Chinese Government is committed to supporting all the peace efforts towards resolving the current crisis in South Sudan.
Tedros stated that many mega development projects are being carried out with the support from China, which he said have contribution to the successful implementation of Ethiopia's Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP).
He also underscored on the support from Chinese Government to the economic integration of African countries.
Chinese FM's Africa tour coincides with Abe's visit to Ethiopia, Mozambique, the Ivory Coast and the Gulf state of Oman over seven days, which started Jan. 8. Abe's trip is aimed at strengthening ties with African countries. He is expected to give a speech about Japan's Africa policy in Ethiopia, talk with Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said and sign investment pacts with both countries.
Japan increased its aid to Africa this year and Abe's actions since last year show that the country has been trying to wrest China's influence in Africa, said Zhang Hongming, a researcher of West Asian and African studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The Chinese scholar doubts Abe's visit can diminish China's influence in Africa since China began providing aid to Africa in the mid 1990s.
As Japan wants to become a permanent member of the United National Security Council, it is seeking support from Africa, who has a large number of votes. Japan also hopes to diversify its energy sources through cooperation with Africa, which could affect China's resources and market in the continent, said Zhang.
Wang began his six-day visit to Ethiopia, Djibouti, Ghana and Senegal on Jan. 6. It has become a custom over the past 24 years for Chinese foreign ministers to visit Africa during their first trip abroad of the year.
Speaking to local journalists, Wang said he took the Ethiopian Airlines for his visit being the first Minister of the five permanent members of the UN Peace and Security Council.
