The Chinese Agenda Is Commerce, Trade Cooperation With Africa, Not Military Expansion, Hegemony – Says H.E Lu Kun

Read Time: 9 minutes

The Ambassador to Ghana H. E. Lu Kun yesterday said that the Chinese government’s agenda in fostering partnership with Ghana and Africa as a whole is to build and strengthen shared interests in bilateral
trade agreement and cooperation and not military expansionism and hegemony as others have sought to do over the years. According to him commerce and trade cooperation between China and Africa is
the Chinese government’s main focus and this has grown over the years as China still remains Africa’s largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years.

Ambassador Lu Kun who addressed the media at the Chinese Embassy in the Accra on the recently held 20th Communist Party Of China (CPC) Congress which took place from October 16 to 22 on the
theme; “A Chinese path to Modernization Benefiting the world” said emphatically that apart from
trade and other areas of cooperation which include defense, the Chinese government’s principle has been to respect the territorial integrity of all countries and as such is against hegemony.

“First, China remains committed to an independent foreign policy and safeguarding international fairness and justice. We respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. We stay true to the
principle of equality of all countries big or small, strong or weak, rich or
poor, and respect the development paths and social systems independently chosen by the people
of all countries. We stand firmly against all forms of hegemonism, the Cold War mentality, or interference
in other countries’ internal affairs.

China’s development strengthens the world’s forces for peace. No matter what stage of development it
reaches, China will never seek hegemony or engage in expansionism”, he said. Ambassador Kun noted that the Chinese government agenda to promote trade with Africa has seen bilateral trade volume from 2021 reach a historical 254.3 billion US dollars, up 35.3% year-on-year. “By the end of 2020, Chinese companies had invested more than 43 billion US dollars in Africa, covering highways, electricity, telecommunications and ports, etc. Chinese companies have helped African countries build and
upgrade over 10,000 kilometers of railway, around 100,000 kilometers of highway, 1,000 bridges, 100 ports, and many large-scale power plants, hospitals and schools. Such support has boosted economic growth, increased tax revenues, created jobs and improved people’s livelihood, bringing tangible benefits to the Andy McDonald from front page African people”, he said.

The Chinese Ambassador said China Ghana relations has grown significantly and has been of enormous benefit especially to Ghana which has gained from Chinese aid as in projects as well as loaned projects.
This is the full text of the statement by Ambassador Lu Kun;

Briefing on the 20th CPC National Congress

Dear friends from media,

Good morning! Welcome to today’s briefing on the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Mema wo akwaaba. I would like to deliver on four topics, including the major deliverables of the meeting, major achievements in the past decade, China’s foreign policy and China-Ghana friendly relationship.

I. Major Deliverables of the 20^th National Congress

From October 16^th to 22^nd, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was successfully held. The meeting took place at a critical time as the entire Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups embark on a new journey to build China into a modern socialist country in all respects and advance toward the Second Centenary Goal. The meeting took stock of China’s major achievements and valuable experience in the new era, and drew a new blueprint for China’s future development.

The most important political deliverable of the meeting was the election of the new central collective leadership with General Secretary Xi Jinping at its core. Xi’s re-election as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee met the aspirations of the Chinese people and the 96 million Party members, which is a vivid demonstration of the whole process of people’s democracy.

The most important theoretical achievement of the meeting is the systematic explanation of the theory of Chinese modernization. From now on, the central task of the CPC will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

Chinese modernization is socialist modernization pursued under the leadership of the CPC. It contains elements that are common to the modernization processes of all countries, but it is more characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context. It is the modernization of a huge population, of common prosperity for all, of material and cultural-ethical advancement, of harmony between humanity and nature, and of peaceful development.

The essential requirements of Chinese modernization are as follows: upholding the leadership of the CPC and socialism with Chinese characteristics, pursuing high-quality development, developing whole-process people’s democracy, enriching the people’s cultural lives, achieving common prosperity for all, promoting harmony between humanity and nature, building a human community with a shared future, and creating a new form of human advancement.

Just as an Akan proverb says, “All fingers are not the same.” Chinese modernization differs from the old path of war, colonization, and plunder taken by Western countries and provides a new option for developing countries to achieve modernization and for mankind to explore a better social system.

  II. Great Achievements in the Past Decade

Ten years have passed since the Party’s 18th National Congress. The past decade marked three major events of great immediate importance and profound historical significance for the cause of the Party and the people. We embraced the centenary of the CPC; we ushered in a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and we eradicated absolute poverty and finished building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, thus completing the First Centenary Goal.

In the past decade, China has made great efforts to promote high-quality development. China’s GDP has grown from 8.5 trillion US dollars to 17.7 trillion dollars, accounting for 18.5% of the world economy, ranking second worldwide, with per capita GDP exceeding 12,000 dollars. China contributes 38.6% to global growth on average, succeeding the combined contribution of the G7 countries. China’s manufacturing sector is the largest in the world, as are its foreign exchange reserves. China has built the world’s largest networks of high-speed railways and expressways and made major achievements in building airports, ports, and water conservancy, energy, information, and other infrastructure.

We have accelerated efforts to build our self-reliance and strength in science and technology, with nationwide R&D spending ranks the second highest in the world. We have grown stronger in basic research and original innovation, made breakthroughs in some core technologies in key fields, and boosted emerging strategic industries. We have witnessed major successes on multiple fronts, including manned spaceflight, lunar and Martian exploration, deep sea and deep earth probes, supercomputers, satellite navigation, quantum information, nuclear power technology, new energy technology, airliner manufacturing, and biomedicine. China has joined the ranks of the world’s innovators.

In the past decade, we have won the battle against poverty. A total of 832 impoverished counties and close to 100 million poor rural residents have been lifted out of poverty. We have, once and for all, resolved the problem of absolute poverty in China, realizing the thousand-year-old dream of a well-off society, making significant contributions to the cause of global poverty reduction.

In the past decade, China has adhered to the philosophy of people-centered development, creating 13 million new urban jobs on average each year and a middle-income group of over 400 million people. China has put in place the world’s largest education, social security and health systems; basic old-age insurance covers 1.04 billion people; average life expectancy has risen to 78.2 years. Facing the COVID-19 pandemic, we put people and lives first, balance pandemic prevention and socioeconomic development, and has achieved significant positive results.

In the past decade, China has committed to opening up. We have successfully held five China International Import Expos and set up 21 pilot free trade zones. We proposed the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank, and signed more than 200 cooperation documents on Belt and Road cooperation with 149 countries and 32 international organizations. From 2013 to 2021, China’s trade in goods with countries along the Belt and Road reached nearly 11 trillion US dollars, and mutual investment exceeded 230 billion US dollars.

III. China’s Foreign Policy

Today, our world, our times, and history are changing in ways like never before, posing unprecedented challenges for human society. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed in the report to the meeting that China “must maintain a global vision” and “work to build an even better world”. China has always been committed to its foreign policy goals of upholding world peace and promoting common development, and is dedicated to building a human community with a shared future.

    First, China remains committed to an independent foreign policy and safeguarding international fairness and justice. We respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. We stay true to the principle of equality of all countries big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, and respect the development paths and social systems independently chosen by the people of all countries. We stand firmly against all forms of hegemonism, the Cold War mentality, or interference in other countries’ internal affairs. China’s development strengthens the world’s forces for peace. No matter what stage of development it reaches, China will never seek hegemony or engage in expansionism.

Second, China remains committed to expanding global partnerships and deepening comprehensive diplomatic agenda. We will adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in pursuing friendship and cooperation with other countries and broadening the convergence of interests. With a commitment to the greater good and shared interests, China endeavors to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries and safeguard the common interests of the developing world. We will tell China’s stories better to enhance the international community’s understanding of China.

    Third, China is committed to opening up and common development. China cannot develop in isolation from the world, and the world also needs China for its development. China will only open its door wider. China is committed to the fundamental national policy of opening to the outside world and strives to create new opportunities for the world with its own development. We will adhere to the right course of economic globalization and oppose protectionism, the erection of “fences and barriers,” decoupling, disruption of industrial and supply chains. China is prepared to invest more resources in global development cooperation, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, to support other developing countries in accelerating development and benefiting the people.

    Fourth, China is committed to refining the global governance system featuring shared growth through discussion and collaboration. China upholds true multilateralism, promotes greater democracy in international relations, and works to see that emerging markets and developing countries are better represented and have a greater say in global affairs. We oppose all forms of unilateralism and are actively involved in setting global security rules and promote international security cooperation. We push for global campaign against climate change and promote harmony between humanity and nature.

    Fifth, China is committed to a global vision and building a human community with a shared future. We will promote peaceful development over conflict and confrontation, promote common security over absolute security, promote mutual benefit over zero-sum games, promote cultural exchanges over clash of civilizations, and promote green growth to protect our planet. China stands ready to work with the international community to put the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative into action, to jointly build an open and inclusive world, a clean and beautiful world, and world of lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity.

    Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

Strengthening solidarity and cooperation with African countries has been the cornerstone of China’s foreign policy. China remains Africa’s largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years. In 2021, the bilateral trade volume reached a historical 254.3 billion US dollars, up 35.3% year-on-year. By the end of 2020, Chinese companies had invested more than 43 billion US dollars in Africa, covering highways, electricity, telecommunications and ports, etc. Chinese companies have helped African countries build and upgrade over 10,000 kilometers of railway, around 100,000 kilometers of highway, 1,000 bridges, 100 ports, and many large-scale power plants, hospitals and schools. Such support has boosted economic growth, increased tax revenues, created jobs and improved people’s livelihood, bringing tangible benefits to the African people.

  IV. China-Ghana Relations

China and Ghana have always been good friends, good partners and good brothers. Ghana is among the first in sub-Saharan Africa to establish diplomatic ties with China. In September 2018, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo paid a state visit to China and held bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping. The two leaders delineated the blueprint of the future China-Ghana relations. After the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, China and Ghana united and supported each other as brothers. The political mutual trust between the two countries has been enhanced significantly. We supported each other in bilateral and multilateral areas. Ghana firmly abides by the one-China principle and supported China on issues concerning China’s core interests including human rights. We deeply appreciate that.

China is Ghana’s largest trading partner and major source of investment. The bilateral trade volume ranks among the highest in Africa. From January to October 2022, bilateral trade reached nearly 8.6 billion US dollars, up 10.2% year on year. Since the beginning of this year, China-aided Polytechnics, Technical and Vocational Training Centers Upgrading Project has been commissioned. Other China-aided projects including the Jamestown Fishing Port, Phase II of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho and the Annex Building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration are at different levels of construction. Five infrastructure projects under the Master Project Support Agreement between the Ghanaian government and Sinohydro have been started or commissioned. H.E. President Akufo-Addo commissioned the Tamale Interchange on his birthday (Mar. 29) and praised it as the best birthday gift he has ever received in his State of the Nation Address.

The people-to-people exchange continues to deepen. Two Confucius Institutes have been established at the University of Ghana and the University of Cape Coast. The University of Ghana has also set up a Chinese Section under the Department of Modern Languages. A Chinese language teaching center has been set up in Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology(KNUST). Tens of thousands of Ghanaian students are learning Chinese. Over 6,500 Ghanaian students are studying in China, the second largest in Africa.

The Ghanaian society also pays high attention to the 20^th National Congress of the CPC. The NPP, NDC, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Dominic Nitiwul, Minister For Defence and many other Ghanaian friends sent warm congratulations to the CPC and General Secretary Xi Jinping on his re-election. I’d like to express heartfelt appreciation to them.

Finally, I wish to express my sincere thanks to the friends who have been following China closely and caring about the development of China-Ghana relations. China is ready to work with Ghana to further deepen mutual trust and practical cooperation on all fronts for the benefit of the two peoples. Thank you!