China-Africa Development Sharing Weal and Woe
中非发展，命运与共
Charge d’affaire Lai Bo’s Article Published by Zambian Mainstream Media
驻赞比亚使馆临时代办赖波在赞主流媒体发表署名文章
11 September 2018
2018年9月11日
On 11th September, the article titled “China-Africa Development Sharing Weal and Woe” by Mr. Lai Bo, Charge d’affaire of the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, was published on Zambia Daily Mail, a local mainstream newspaper. The article reviews the achievements yielded in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit, and emphasizes that China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future through weal and woe and the “Eight Major Initiatives” announced by H.E. Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China will bring more development opportunities for China-Africa cooperation. Following is the full text of the article:
2018年9月11日，驻赞比亚使馆临时代办赖波在赞第一大报《每日邮报》发表署名文章《中非发展，命运与共》，介绍中非合作论坛北京峰会重要成果，强调中非早就结成休戚与共的命运共同体，习近平主席提出的“八大行动”将为中非合作带来更多发展机遇。全文如下：
Several years ago I was posted at the Chinese Embassy in Lesotho. Over a month ago, I was notified that I would be assigned to work at the Chinese Embassy in Zambia. On my way to Lusaka, I made a transit via OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. This time I felt familiar and yet not quite so, as this flight is northbound instead of southbound. This time around when I returned to Africa it was just dozens of days before the convening of 2018 FOCAC Beijing Summit when China and African countries would join hands in building an even closer community with a shared future. As I now recall the road which China-African relations have traversed, and look forward to the brilliant future prospects of China-Africa cooperation, I am so excited that lots of feelings well up in my mind.
几年前，我曾在中国驻莱索托使馆常驻。一个多月前，我被派往驻赞比亚使馆工作。在南非约堡机场转机来卢萨卡，我感觉既熟悉又陌生，这次转机不是往南而是往北飞。重返非洲工作，适逢中非合作论坛北京峰会在即，中非双方正携手构建更加紧密的命运共同体之际。回顾中非关系走过的历程，展望未来合作人的美好前景，不禁感慨万千。
At the political level, China and Africa are bosom friends and they will assume joint responsibility in world affairs. China-Africa relations with a long history have stood firm and gone through the test of time. With shared historical experiences, development tasks and political appeals, China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future through weal and woe. With mutual respect for and understanding and support of each other, China consistently upheld the Zambian and African peoples’ cause of independence and national liberation and it was African countries that resolutely supported China’s resumption of the latter’s lawful seat at the United Nations and “carried China into the UN”. In recent years, with the constant increase of political trust between the two sides, the new type of China-Africa Strategic Partnership was been elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership. As President Xi Jinping rightly pointed out at the keynote speech of the opening ceremony of the Summit, China has followed the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests. We respect Africa, love Africa and support Africa. We follow a “five-no” approach in our relations with Africa: no interference in African countries’ pursuit of development paths that fit their national conditions; no interference in African countries’ internal affairs; no imposition of our will on African countries; no attachment of political strings to assistance to Africa; and no seeking of selfish political gains in investment and financing cooperation with Africa.
政治层面，中非友好，责任共担。中非友谊源远流长，历久弥坚。基于共同的历史遭遇、发展任务和政治诉求，中非从来同呼吸、共命运、早就结成休戚与共的命运共同体。双方相互尊重、相互理解、相互支持，中国坚决支持非洲和赞比亚争取国家独立和民族解放事业，非洲国家坚决支持恢复中国在联合国的合法席位，将中国“抬进联合国”。近年来，随着双方政治互信不断增强，中非新型战略伙伴关系提升至全面战略合作伙伴关系。习近平主席在峰会开幕式主旨讲话中强调，中国始终秉持真实亲诚理念和正确义利观，在合作中坚持真诚友好、平等相待；中国人民始终尊重非洲、热爱非洲、支持非洲，坚持做到“五不”，即：不干预非洲国家探索符合国情的发展道路，不干涉非洲内政，不把自己的意志强加于人，不在对非援助中附加任何政治条件，不在对非投资融资中谋取政治私利。
President Xi proposed that China and Africa should strengthen political and policy dialogue at various levels, enhance mutual understanding and support on issues involving each other’s core interests and major concerns, and boost coordination on major international and regional issues. Such efforts will enable us to uphold the common interests of China and Africa as well as other developing countries. Recently, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, founding father of the Republic of Zambia gave a high appraisal to Chinese government for the latter’s hosting of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, where the Chinese and African leaders gathered to discuss the important issues essential for Africa’s development. Although the international situation has undergone profound changes, the Third World Theory proposed by late Chairman Mao Zedong during his meeting with Dr. Kaunda is still relevant. It could be predicted that with China and Africa pursuing common development to fulfilling the dream of national prosperity and rejuvenation, the international power configuration would be more balanced and harmonious.
习主席提出中非双方“要扩大各层级政治对话和政策沟通，加强在涉及彼此核心利益和重大关切问题上的相互理解和支持，密切在重大国际和地区问题上的协作配合，维护中非和广大发展中国家共同利益”。赞比亚开国总统卡翁达最近高度评价中国政府举办中非合作论坛北京峰会，与非洲各国领导人共商非洲发展大计。虽然国际形势发生了深刻变化，毛泽东主席在会见卡翁达时提出著名的“三个世界划分”理论仍有现实意义。可以预言，中非双方携手共谋发展，共圆繁荣振兴之梦，国际力量对比将更趋平衡、和谐。
At the economic level, China-Africa cooperation aims at a win-win result. In the sixties and seventies of the 20th century, China helped the construction of Tazara, giving a strong impetus to the economic development of Zambia and Tanzania. During the process, 64 Chinese technicians, engineers and workers sacrificed their lives. Their glorious deeds are still remembered and eulogized by the peoples of the three countries. Today, China endeavored to align the Belt and Road initiative with the AU Agenda 2063, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the development programs of African countries including the Seventh National Development Plan of Zambia in a joint effort to forge a China-Africa community with a shared future. At the Summit, President Xi announced Eight Major Initiatives which include industrial promotion, facility interconnection, trade facilitation, capacity building, health care, people-to-people exchange, peace and security. These initiatives demonstrated that China is fully committed to helping African countries including Zambia to step up their industrialization and agricultural modernization in pursuit for economic independence and sustainable development. During President Edgar Lungu’s trip to China, China and Zambia signed a series of co-operative agreements including a MOU on the Cooperation on Belt and Road Initiative. President Lungu said that Zambia would like to build One Belt one Road Initiative, expand the cooperation in various sectors within the FOCAC framework and thus leading the development of the African continent and the sub-regions.
经济层面，中非合作，互利共赢。上个世纪6、70年代，中国援建坦赞铁路，有力地促进了坦赞两国的经济发展。在修建过程中，64名中国人献出了宝贵的生命，至今为两国人民所缅怀和颂扬。今天，中国正在把“一带一路”建设同落实非洲联盟《2063年议程》、联合国2030年可持续发展议程以及包括赞比亚第七个五年发展规划在内的非洲各国发展战略相互对接，共同打造合作共赢的中非命运共同体。习近平主席在峰会上提出的对非八大行动计划包括实施产业促进、设施联通、贸易便利化、能力建设、绿色发展、人文交流、健康卫生、和平安全行动。这表明中国正在以实际行动致力于帮助包括赞比亚在内的非洲国家实现工业化、农业现代化，实现经济独立和自主可持续发展。此次伦古总统赴华参会期间，中赞双方签署了一系列合作协议，其中包括“一带一路”合作谅解备忘录。伦古总统表示，赞比亚愿同中方共建“一带一路”，拓展中非合作论坛框架下各领域合作，带动非洲大陆及有关非洲次区域发展。
While China and Africa go ahead steadily on the path of win-win cooperation, there are always some force which would speak foul or find faults with the Belt and Road Initiative and China-Africa, China-Zambia relations. However, ultimately, it is for the peoples of China and Africa to judge the performance of China-Africa cooperation. There is a Bemba proverb which says, Uwingila mu mushitu, tomfwa nswaswa. It means that “he who enters the thicket does not fear and turn back when hearing sticks breaking.” Therefore, we should never be disturbed by any outside imaginations or assumptions.
国际上总有一些势力对“一带一路”建设和中非、中赞合作说三道四。中非合作好不好，只有中非人民最有发言权。赞比亚有句谚语说：“进入荒林后，不要听到树枝断裂声就望而却步，中途折返”。中非要义无反顾，坚定走合作共赢之路，绝不能被外界的想象或臆测所干扰！
At the people-to-people exchange level, China-Africa mutual learning will bring the two peoples closer. President Xi stressed that by enhancing exchanges, mutual learning and harmonious co-existence of China-Africa civilizations, we will inject lasting impetus into invigorating our civilizations and cultures, enriching our artistic creations, and provide rich cultural nourishment for China-Africa cooperation. With more people-to-people exchanges in culture and art, education, sports, and between our think tanks, the media, and women and young people, we will strengthen the bond between the people of China and Africa. Recently, I visited Lusaka National Museum and the Confucius Institute at the University of Lusaka, and met with some scholars and experts from local think tanks. I found that these Zambian friends have shown great interest in and are quite eager to enhancing exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese side. Not long ago, a group of Chinese artists came to Zambia on a field tour and have had very in-depth exchange of views with their Zambian colleagues. They got plenty of artistic inspirations from the latter and from the local traditions and customs, instilling fresh vigor and vitality to their artistic creations. “The key to sound relations between states lies in the affinity between their peoples, which largely stems from mutual understanding”. Therefore, it is essential that China and Zambia should made joint efforts to expand and deepen people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.
人文层面，中非互鉴，心手相连。峰会提出要促进中非文明交流互鉴、交融共存，为中非合作提供更深厚的精神滋养。为此要扩大文化艺术、教育体育、智库媒体、妇女青年等各界人员交往，拉紧中非人民的情感纽带。最近，我走访了赞比亚卢萨卡博物馆、赞比亚大学孔子学院，还同一些智库人士接触交流，赞比亚朋友对加强与中国的合作交流很有兴趣，充满期待。不久前，一些中国画家来赞采风写生，与当地同行进行了面对面的深入交流，从赞比亚的同行以及这里的风土人情中获得颇多艺术灵感，给他们的艺术创作注入了新的活力。“国之交在民相亲”，中赞双方需要共同努力，不断扩大和深化人文交流与合作。
On the peace and security level, China and Africa will join hands in safeguarding stability and peace. China champions a new vision of security featuring common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. We firmly support African countries and the African Union as well as other regional organizations in Africa in solving African issues in the African way. China is ready to play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability in Africa and will support African countries to strengthen their independent capacity for safeguarding stability and peace. Zambia has been called an oasis of peace in Africa and it plays a very important role in maintaining regional peace and actively participating in UN peace-keeping operations. In this aspect, there is great potential for cooperation between China and Africa including Zambia.
和安层面，中非共筑，维稳维和。中国主张共同、综合、合作、可持续的新安全观，坚定支持非洲国家和非洲联盟等地区组织以非洲方式解决非洲问题，愿为促进非洲和平稳定发挥建设性作用，支持非洲国家提升自主维稳维和能力。实施和平安全行动，支持中非开展和平安全和维和维稳合作。赞比亚被称为和平的绿洲，在地区安全事务和维和行动中发挥着重要作用。中非中赞在此方面的合作潜力巨大。
On the health care level, China-Africa cooperation will serve to overcoming all types of diseases. China has decided to upgrade 50 medical and health aid programs for Africa, particularly flagship projects such as the headquarters of the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention and China-Africa Friendship Hospitals. Exchange and information cooperation will be carried out on public health. Cooperation programs will be launched on the prevention and control of emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases, schistosomiasis, HIV/AIDS and malaria. China will train more medical specialists for Africa and continue to send medical teams that better meet Africa’s needs. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Chinese Medical Team coming to Zambia. The Chinese Medical Teams have contributed a lot to improving local medical and health care conditions and upgrading local people’s livelihood. In the future, the Chinese side will work together with the Zambian side in constantly enhancing the cooperation in the medical and health care sector.
卫生层面，中非合作，共克疾患。中国将实施健康卫生行动，决定优化升级50个医疗卫生援非项目，重点援建非洲疾控中心总部、中非友好医院等旗舰项目；开展公共卫生交流和信息合作，实施中非新发再发传染病、血吸虫、艾滋病、疟疾等疾控合作项目；为非洲培养更多专科医生，继续派遣并优化援非医疗队。中赞双方在健康卫生领域的合作交流富有成效，今年是中国向赞比亚派遣医疗队40周年，中国援赞医疗队为改善当地医疗卫生状况，提高人民健康水平作出巨大贡献。今后中方将与赞方携手，不断深化在医疗卫生领域合作。
On the ecological level, China-Africa cooperation will boost the harmonious development of themselves and the rest of the world. President Xi appealed at the summit that China will work with Africa to pursue green, low-carbon, circular and sustainable development and protect our lush mountains and lucid waters and all living beings on our planet in order to build a China-Africa community with a shared future that promotes harmony between man and nature. To this end, China decided to undertake 50 projects for green development and ecological and environmental protection in Africa to expand exchanges and cooperation with Africa on climate change, ocean, desertification prevention and control, and wildlife protection. A China-Africa environmental cooperation center will be set up, and more policy dialogue and joint research on environmental issues will be conducted. The China-Africa Green Envoys Program will be implemented to strengthen Africa’s human capacity for environmental management, pollution prevention and control, and green development. China will also work with Africa to raise public awareness of environmental protection. Of course, I believe China and Zambia can do more things together in this regard.
生态层面，中非合作，和谐发展。峰会提出中非要共同倡导绿色、低碳、循环、可持续的发展方式，共同保护青山绿水和万物生灵，共同打造和谐共生的中非命运共同体。为此，“八大行动”中的绿色发展行动为非洲实施50个绿色发展和生态环保援助项目，重点加强在应对气候变化、海洋合作、荒漠化防治、野生动物和植物保护等方面的交流合作；推进中非环境合作中心建设，加强环境政策交流对话和环境问题联合研究；开展中非绿色使者计划，在环保管理、污染防治、绿色经济等领域为非洲培养专业人才；开展环境保护宣传教育合作。中赞可加强这方面的交流合作。
Above all, the Eight Major Initiatives speak loud and clear that there are a lot of things that China and Africa, and China and Zambia can do together. Let us join hands and make greater contributions to forging an even closer China-Africa community with a shared future!
“八大行动”计划表明，中非、中赞合作大有可为。让我们携起手来，为构建更加紧密的中非命运共同体做出更大贡献！