Africa: AU to Further Develop China-Africa Relations
The African Union will further develop its relations with China and push co-operation between African media and Chinese media including Xinhua News Agency, said Dr. Elham Mahmoud Ahmed Ibrahim, Acting Chairperson of the AU Commission, on Wednesday.
The media could play a role of bridge in the promotion of friendship and understanding between the peoples of Africa and China, said Elham, who is also AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, when meeting He Ping, Editor-in-Chief of China’s Xinhua News Agency at the Headquarters of the AU.
Elham told He Ping that the AU has set up a three-stage economic development plan for Africa for the year between 2012 and 2040, with an investment amount of up to US$360 billion.
As China has become an important co-operative partner with Africa in the latter’s economic and social development, more Chinese enterprises are welcomed to invest in the continent, she said.
He Ping said as the world’s biggest developing country and developing countries’ group, China and Africa are developing new strategic partnerships, which are important for world prosperity and development.
He said Chinese President Hu Jintao has said during the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation that to open up new prospects for a new type of China-Africa strategic partnership, China and Africa should increase cultural and people-to-people exchange, and increase contacts between media, so as to provide intellectual inspiration and cultural support for China-Africa co-operation.
As China’s official news agency and a media of international influence, Xinhua has the duty to play a more active role in intensifying contacts and co-operation between the media of both countries, announced He.
In reporting Africa’s news, including the progress achieved by African nations, Xinhua is committed to pursuing its coverage in a general, objective and balanced style, said He.
Xinhua