During the China-Africa Summit in Beijing, Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister Apollinaire Tambèla and Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Zeine met with Malian Head of State Col. Assimi Goïta, the chairman of the confederation of Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Speaking on behalf of the Burkinabe and Nigerien Head of State, Zeine said the purpose of the prime ministers’ meeting with Goïta during the summit was to harmonise their bilateral relations with China as Goita was the chairman of the confederation. Goita was the only head of state from the Sahel Confederation who attended the summit.
The Nigerien prime minister further stressed that the Sahel states’ attendance at the summit was not to seek financial aid but to build a partnership with the second-largest economy in the world (China) based on mutual respect and benefit. He said both Africa and China possess valuable resources and that the relationship should serve both parties equally.
Furthermore, Zeine said the AES attended the summit because of three things, namely: the positive impact of China’s revolution, the change of mentality the revolution had on its citizens, order and discipline, and the work ethic of the Chinese.
On Thursday, China pledged 360 billion yuan ($50.7 billion) in funding to Africa, the creation of up to 1 million jobs, and support for infrastructural projects. While addressing leaders and representatives of over 50 African countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the funding is part of China’s plan to strengthen cooperation with Africa in key sectors such as industry, agriculture, trade, and investment.
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