Casablanca (ADV) – China’s President Xi Jinping has added more spice to the US$60-billion funding disbursed to Africa by revealing an eight-point agenda to end hunger and pull Africa out of poverty by 2030.
Unlike the UN millennium development goals that are already hitting a snag 12 years ahead of their 2030 timeline, President Xi is upbeat about China’s eight-point agenda for Africa.
The charismatic Chinese leader made the revelation of the development blueprint on Monday shortly after fulfilling his US$ 60 billion promise.
Expounding on the blueprint, he explained that significant phases of the strategy would be implemented over the coming three years with the first being the launch of an industrial promotion initiative.
This, he said, will build and upgrade trade and economic zones on the continent.
The second, Xi said, entails an implementation of a program of action on agricultural modernization intended to ensure food security in Africa by 2030.
To attain this, he said 50 agricultural assistance programs will be rolled out, and 500 senior agricultural experts will be sent to Africa.
“We have also decided to give RMB 1 billion for emergency humanitarian food assistance caused by natural disasters on the continent,” Xi said.
Xi also promised to settle local currency loans and to facilitate bond issuance by African countries in China which he said are tangible measures that will increase confidence in African economies.
Particularly beneficial is the announcement that China will offer 50,000 scholarships to African students, and train 1,000 high caliber Africans in ten social and development planning workshops.
In comparison, experts say all the 28 European Union states put together have not offered 1,000 bursaries for African students compared to 50,000 by China.
Speaking at the event, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed admiration of China’s success story in attaining the SDGs and appealed to African countries to emulate China’s example.
Here is what he said: «China has seen remarkable economic ascendance, becoming the second largest economy in the world, and the third largest foreign investor.
It (China) has met almost all of the Millennium Development Goals. There are valuable lessons from its impressive growth model that can be used by Africans as a catalyst for development,” Ramaphosa said.
Source: © Bur-csa – N.A – ADV
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