On November 3, 2006, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao held a press conference in the press center of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), answering the questions of journalists on China-Africa relations and the FOCAC Beijing Summit.

Concerning the FOCAC Beijing Summit, Liu said that November 4 is a great day to the Chinese and the African people and the China-Africa friendship and cooperation. The upcoming FOCAC Beijing Summit is a landmark in the history of China-Africa relations. During the Summit the leaders of China and Africa will review the development of bilateral relations, summarize the experience of developing China-Africa relations and plan the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership. The Summit will push forward China-Africa cooperation in an all-round manner.

Liu introduced that so far the heads of state of 35 African countries, 6 prime ministers of government, 1 vice president, 1 representative at the level of the vice head of state and the ministerial representatives of 5 countries have confirmed attendance to the Summit and the heads of delegations of 47 countries arrived at Beijing. We extend warm welcome to them. Prior to the Summit China and Africa had successfully held the senior officials meeting and ministerial conference. During the past 3 days, President Hu Jintao and other senior Chinese officials frequently held meetings and talked with the leaders of African countries. They spoke highly of the friendship and cooperation between China and Africa, expressed sincere hope and full confidence in the Beijing Summit and agreed to strengthen cooperation and make joint efforts to ensure the Summit a success.

On the question why the China-Africa relationship remains unshakable and becomes even firmer as time goes by and what tangible benefit has China's assistance to Africa brought to the African countries, Liu answered that over years China and Africa have extended mutual support and help, which has brought tangible benefit to the Chinese and the African people. The support and help between China and Africa have been two-way at the very beginning. While China provides aid to Africa, the African countries give huge support to China in terms of politics, justice and economy. With the same historical experience, China and Africa today face common development tasks. Under the situation of economic globalization, to enhance cooperation between China and Africa is beneficial to both sides to seizing the opportunities and jointly coping with the challenges brought about by globalization. Africa needs China and vice versa. The mutual support between China and Africa is mutual help between developing countries and major component of south-south cooperation, which serves the interest of China, Africa and other developing countries and is beneficial to world peace, stability and development.

When answering the question how will China help Africa meet the challenges of economic and social development, Liu said that due to various reasons, especially historical sufferings, African countries still face some difficulties in the process of development. But it should be noted that the African countries have achieved great progress in realizing peace, stability and development after years of hard work. At present Africa still faces multiple challenges in such areas as transport, infrastructure, medical care, agricultural technology and human resources. In all those areas China has conducted fruitful cooperation with Africa, which has boosted the development of the continent. Despite being a developing country itself, China is willing and obliged to help the African people move forward. The cooperation between China and African countries is based on mutual benefit and good to both sides. China will insist to the policy of pushing forward the cooperation with Africa in various areas. It is a correct policy.

As to the question that some people criticize China practices "new-colonialism" in Africa, Liu noted that the key of the question is who is criticizing and condemning China. Both the African governments and people speak highly of the China-Africa relations and thank China for our help to Africa's political, economic and social progress over the years. There is no single African government or people criticizing that China is practicing neo-colonialism in Africa. The Chinese and African people who once suffered from colonialism understand the best what is colonialism. The political relations between China and Africa are based on equality, mutual benefit and non-interference into each other's internal affairs, economic relations on equality and mutual benefit and cultural relations on mutual respect and learning from each other. The claim of colonialism shall never be made against China and the Chinese people.

Liu also denounced the claim that China's loan to Africa hinders the efforts of the World Bank of pushing for good governance in African governments through issuing credit. He said that it is not just the World Bank that provides assistance to Africa. Nobody has the right to monopolizing the relations with African countries. Both the African governments and people are committed to realizing peace, stability and economic progress and promoting the development of various social activities including culture, education and health. During the meetings and talks in the past few days, the leaders of African countries all agreed that China is their reliable partner and true friend and indicated the willingness of conducting cooperation in all fields with China on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. China helps Africa improve health, treat patients, build infrastructure and develop agriculture, which benefits the African people. How can such efforts undermine the human rights and good governance of Africa? He advises those narrow-mined people look at China-Africa relations with a broad mind and join hands with the African people to contribute to the prosperity and development of the world and Africa.