On 5-14 January, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi visited the seven countries of Kenya, Sierra Leone, Algeria, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Maldives. At the end of his trip, Minister Yang gave an exclusive interview to Xinhua news agency and CCTV in Riyadh and talked about the outcomes and how he felt about the trip. The following is the transcript of the interview.

Question: How do you comment on your visit to the seven countries? What impressed you most on this visit to Africa at the beginning of a new year? How do you see the current state and prospects of China-Africa relations?

Minister Yang: The visit to the seven countries in Asia and Africa at their invitation is my first foreign trip this year. During the visit, I had talks and meetings with leaders of these countries. We had candid and in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues of common interest and reached broad consensus. This visit achieved the goal of strengthening mutual trust, expanding cooperation, deepening understanding and carrying forward friendship.

Visiting Africa at the beginning of every year has been a tradition of Chinese foreign minister for many years. It shows we attach great importance to strengthening friendship and cooperation with African countries. This African trip is my third official visit to Africa since I took office. Each time I was deeply impressed by African people's warm hospitality and their profound friendship towards the Chinese people.

This visit has left me deeply convinced that China-Africa relations are now at a new stage of accelerated development and face important opportunities never seen before. At the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in November 2006, China and Africa jointly established a new type of strategic partnership of political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchanges, opening a new chapter in China-Africa relationship. In November last year, the fourth Ministerial Meeting of FOCAC was successfully held in Sharm El Sheikh. The meeting adopted the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Sharm El Sheikh Action Plan (2010-2012), a comprehensive plan for China-Africa cooperation in all areas in the coming three years. The eight new measures on promoting China-Africa practical cooperation that Premier Wen announced at the meeting on behalf of the Chinese government demonstrate the commitment of China and Africa to a joint response to major global challenges. They will help African countries achieve sustainable development and promote common development of China and Africa. This year marks the beginning of the implementation of the outcomes of the fourth ministerial meeting. Through this visit, I strengthened communication and coordination with the governments of host countries on delivering the outcomes of the Sharm El Sheikh meeting and reached broad consensus. In line with the principles of sincere friendship, equal consultation, comprehensive planning, universal benefits, gradual progress, high efficiency and practical results, China will continue to work with our African friends to earnestly implement the outcomes of the ministerial meeting, raise China-Africa practical cooperation to a higher level and bring real benefits to the Chinese and African people.

Question: You just said that Premier Wen announced eight new measures for promoting practical cooperation with Africa. Could you explain why China introduced these measures and what impact they will have on future development of China-Africa relations?

Minister Yang: The fourth Ministerial Meeting of FOCAC was successfully held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt on 8-9 November 2009. The eight new measures on cooperation with Africa that Premier Wen announced at the opening ceremony cover a wide range of areas, such as tackling climate change, increasing cooperation in science and technology, strengthening financing capacity of Africa, expanding market access for African products, deepening cooperation in agriculture, medical service, public health, education and human resources development, and broadening cultural exchanges and people-to-people contact. These measures are substantive, innovative and comprehensive. They are designed in line with the goals of China-Africa cooperation and the practical needs of the vast number of African countries. They are aimed at helping African countries address current difficulties and achieve long-term sustainable development. These measures serve African countries' endeavor to improve people's livelihood and enhance development capability, and meet our common aspiration to comprehensively promote China-Africa relations. They fully demonstrate China's commitment to working with Africa and jointly overcoming difficulties in the face of the international financial crisis. The eight new measures will not only support comprehensive economic and social development of African countries and help them achieve the UN millennium development goals at an early date, but also deepen China-Africa mutually beneficial cooperation and take the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership to a higher level.

Question: The last three stops of your trip are all Arab countries. How do you see the role of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in advancing relations between China and Arab countries since it was launched? What are your expectations for the growth of relations between China and Arab countries?

Minister Yang: In January 2004, when President Hu Jintao visited the headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo, the two sides jointly announced the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. After almost six years of efforts, more than ten cooperation mechanisms have been put in place within the framework of the Forum, such as the ministerial meeting, senior officials meeting, business conference, friendship conference and media cooperation forum, etc. They cover political, economic, cultural and other fields. With these mechanisms opening new avenues and enriching the content of cooperation, the Forum has become an effective platform for strengthening collective dialogue and practical cooperation between China and Arab countries. It is now playing an active role in promoting the new China-Arab partnership under changed circumstances. As it covers more and more areas, the Forum gains increasing popularity and influence in China and Arab countries. Many Arab friends believe that the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum is a successful example of forum between Arab countries and other country or region. Through the activities of the Forum, the two sides have strengthened the traditional friendship and increased the official and non-governmental friendly exchanges in all areas between China and Arab countries.

The fourth ministerial meeting will be held in China this June. I look forward to meeting foreign ministers of Arab countries and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and having in-depth exchange of views with them on issues of common interest and on the policies and measures for promoting China-Arab relations under the new circumstances. I believe with further improvement, the Forum will lend a strong impetus to the growth of China-Arab relations in the new era and help achieve peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region.

In his speech at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in November 2009, Premier Wen Jiabao stressed that the world today is undergoing major transformation, major adjustments and major development. Profound changes are taking place in international political and economic architecture and the status and influence of developing countries, including Arab countries, are on the rise. In keeping with the new trend, China and Arab countries should increase political, economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation. The establishment and development of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum opened up broad prospects for strengthening collective dialogue and cooperation between the two sides. This important speech made by Premier Wen pointed out the direction for expanding China-Arab mutually beneficial cooperation. As important players in the developing world, China and Arab countries share the aspiration of drawing on each other's strength, deepening cooperation, resolving challenges and achieving win-win progress. China is ready to make concerted efforts with Arab countries to further strengthen dialogue and coordination, translate our shared aspiration into a driving force for deepening our cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, education, security and other fields, and jointly build a new China-Arab partnership for peace and sustainable development and maintain world peace and development.

Question: Global issues such as the international financial crisis and climate change are common challenges confronting the international community. How will China strengthen cooperation with African and Arab states and other developing countries to jointly meet these challenges?

Minister Yang: China, African and Arab countries are all from the developing world. We have common or similar positions on global issues including the international financial crisis and climate change and have carried out productive cooperation in this regard.

China has been actively involved in international cooperation to tackle the global financial crisis with a responsible stance. Since the outbreak of the crisis, we have been working with countries in Africa and the Arab region to scale up information and experience sharing, strengthen cooperation in the financial sector, encourage two-way investment and keep the volume of bilateral trade so as to reduce the damage brought about by the crisis on both sides and other developing countries. Our efforts have produced positive outcomes. China, African and Arab countries share extensive interests and enjoy potential for further cooperation in advancing the reform of the international financial system, deepening cooperation in international financial supervision and regulation, and increasing the voice and representation of developing countries in the international financial system. In the years ahead, China will continue to support African and Arab countries to cope with the financial crisis, follow through on the eight new measurers announced at the 4th FOCAC Ministerial Conference and continue to provide assistance within the realm of our capabilities. We will also keep calling upon the international community to pay real attention to the enormous difficulties and challenges facing the developing world, including African and Arab countries, the least developed countries in particular, and deliver on their pledges on development aid, trade finance and concessional loans as soon as possible. They need to help developing countries stabilize their financial markets, raise the level of economic growth and attain the Millennium Development Goals at an early date. Now is a critical moment: the world economy is emerging from the crisis, but the foundation of a recovery is not yet solid. It will be a slow and tortuous process, and common action of the international community is needed. We are ready to strengthen cooperation with African and Arab countries to make positive contribution to the early recovery of the world economy.

On climate change, China has always maintained full communication and coordination with other developing countries including African and Arab states. Through our joint efforts, the Copenhagen conference finally produced the Copenhagen Accord, which protected the interests of developing countries to the fullest extent possible, safeguarded the central role of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, upheld the dual-track negotiation process of the Bali Roadmap, set apart the emission reduction targets of developed countries and mitigation actions of developing countries, and made arrangements regarding provision of financial and technological support by developed countries, thus laying a sound foundation for continued efforts of the international community against climate change. During this visit, I had an in-depth exchange of views with leaders and officials of African and Arab countries and the Maldives on our joint response to climate change. I reassured my host that China deeply appreciates the challenges faced by African and Arab countries and other developing countries. We will continue to work closely with them to increase exchanges on low-carbon technology and strengthen cooperation and coordination within the framework of "G77 plus China" with the purpose of moving the international negotiation on climate change forward in the right direction and making sure that the shared interests of developing countries including small island states are well protected.

Question: While the world today is experiencing major changes and major adjustments, how will the decades-old traditional friendship and cooperation between China and other developing countries be further consolidated and deepened?

Minister Yang: To strengthen cooperation and solidarity with other developing countries is the bedrock of China's foreign policy. This policy will remain unchanged despite the vicissitudes in the international situation. History tells us that the sustained and robust growth of China's relations with other developing countries is based on mutual support in times of difficulty, anchored in mutual respect and equality, and driven by mutually beneficial cooperation and the pursuit of common development. In view of the current international situation, China and other developing countries are not only faced with rare historic opportunities for faster development, but also various kinds of complex and intricate challenges. What is urgently needed is stronger cooperation and solidarity between the two sides to maintain the shared interests, raise the overall standing of developing countries in the international political and economic architecture, promote democracy in international relations and justice in the international order and make our due contribution towards the goal of building a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity. In my view, there are several areas where China and other developing countries can work together.

First, intensify dialogue and consultation to consolidate political trust. We shall maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, strengthen coordination and cooperation on major global issues of common interest and raise the voice and representation of developing countries in the international system so as to jointly make the international political and economic order a more equitable and reasonable one. China will, as always, speak out for developing countries in the international arena and uphold the interests of the developing world. China will also step up exchanges with other developing countries to help them expand the capacity to cope with global challenges and pursue self-development.

Second, enhance economic cooperation and trade to achieve win-win progress. China and other developing countries are highly complementary economically and enjoy vast prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation. We need to vigorously develop trade and increase flow of goods from other developing countries to China. China encourages more Chinese companies to invest in other developing countries, and at the same time, take on more social responsibilities and live in amity with local people. We will combine trade with technology transfer and assist other developing countries in training technical and managerial personnel.

Third, expand areas of cooperation and strengthen institutional building. China will give more support to regional integration endeavor of developing countries and expand relations with the African Union, League of Arab States, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and other organizations of developing countries. China will also continue to promote diverse exchanges and cooperation within the framework of FOCAC and China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. Following the success of the 4th FOCAC Ministerial Conference last year, we will actively implement the follow-up actions regarding the eight new measures proposed to enhance China-Africa cooperation. This year, we will host the 4th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, which will surely enrich the new type of partnership between China and Arab states.

Fourth, promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges to solidify traditional friendship. China and other members of the developing world all boast splendid cultures. We will be energetically engaged in public diplomacy, support and encourage all kinds of cultural interactions and maintain close communication with NGOs, media organizations and academic institutions of other countries. We will continue to support, to the best of our ability, African and other developing countries in education, health, science, technology and other social endeavors. We also hope they will participate in the Shanghai World Expo to fully display the achievements of their respective countries.