Qin Gang Inaugurates Africa CDC

As part of his five-nation tour of Africa (#QinGangAfrica2023), freshly promoted Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang landed in Ethiopia and visited the #AU HQ. In Addis Ababa, he held a strategic dialogue with the #AU, participated in the inauguration ceremony of the Africa Center for Disease Control (#CDC) and then held a joint press conference with AU Commission Chair Moussa Faki.

Minister Qin Gang highlighted the long-standing friendship between China and Africa. China will strengthen its partnership with Africa by actively searching for mutually beneficial opportunities arising from a close examination of National Development Plans (#NDP) of both sides. In that regard, China has publicized its #BRI and #GDI and the AU has its #PIDA and its #Agenda2063.

He expressed the wish that the new CDC will enhance the capabilities of Africa for disease management. During the pandemic, China has supplied vaccines to numerous African countries. The Africa CDC forms part of one of the Nine Key Cooperation Areas between China and Africa as announced by Xi Jinping at #FOCAC 2021. Due to the #COVID pandemic, its completion was delayed till 2023.

Africa should be a place for cooperation rather than for great power rivalry.

Chinese FM Qin Gang

During his visit to the AU, Minister Qin pointed out that China supports a greater role for Africa in Global Governance, be it at G20 or at the UNSC.