Beijing - The deputy-director for African Affairs at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Li Pin, assured Tuesday in Beijing that the presence of Chinese investments in Angola is increasingly visible and continues to expand.
According to the diplomat, who was speaking at a courtesy meeting with Angolan journalists visiting China, cooperation between the two countries is excellent and sustained.
The diplomat, who worked for around five years at the Chinese Embassy in Angola, denied alegations suchs as that ties between the two countries are cooling down.
“Angola's visibility in China is quite high, so much so that Chinese investments already established in other African countries are moving to Angola and investing in several sectors”, he highlighted.
In fact, he recalled that, in March this year, during President João Lourenço's visit to China, new legal instruments were highlighted within the scope of bilateral cooperation and some specific areas were defined to strengthen this relationship, with emphasis on agriculture, industry and IT.
Regarding the agriculture sector, Li Pin recalled that China has already been investing in this segment for some years (Huambo and Bengo provinces) and that Angola has the potential for large-scale production.
“At the same time, Chinese companies looking for qualified labor also send young Angolan students to China,” he said.
In this way, he added, between 300 and 400 Angolan students are permanently in China undergoing long-term training.
However, he acknowledged that the language continues to be a major obstacle for both Angolans and Chinese.
Therefore, he argued that the Chinese should invest more in learning the Portuguese language, just as Angolans should also make an effort to learn Mandarin.
Li Pin agreed, however, on the need for this cooperation to extend further into interconnection between the two peoples, in the fields of culture, sport, scientific research and beyond.
“China has a cooperative relationship with Angola and other African countries that is not exclusive. Our only objective is to see Africa grow and whatever partner helps in this regard, China welcomes it”, he emphasized.
The diplomat recalled that, immediately after the armed conflict, in 2002, China was the country that financed Angola the most in its reconstruction process, building roads, houses, hospitals, schools and railways.
As for the Lobito Corridor, Li Pin said that his country has helped to recover it because it already knew its importance, both for Angola and for landlocked countries, namely the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.
He welcomed the media importance that it has had, but above all, that it benefits the Angolan population and all those who may need it.
Likewise, he said that the Asian country was also the first to create a cooperation mechanism with Africa (FOCAC), aiming at the development of the continent and a strategic partnership.
Since 2002, China has trained more than three thousand Angolan professionals, restored 2,800 kilometers of railways, 20k kilometers of roads, built 100k homes, over 100 schools and 50 hospitals in Angola.
A group of 5 Angolan journalists has been in China since Sunday, at the invitation of local authorities, to better understand the reality of the Asian country in different areas, namely economic, social and cultural.
On Tuesday, the delegation was received by the management of the China-Africa Institute, with whom they interacted and exchanged ideas with a view to strengthening exchanges between the two peoples and visited the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On Monday, the day was marked by a trip to one of the 7 wonders of the world, the Great Wall of China.
CRB/VIC/CF/jmc
