|Africa Says "NO" to "China Threat" – Interview with the Vice Chairman Msekwa of the Revolutionary Party of Tanzania|
Vice Chairman Pius Msekwa of the Revolutionary Party of Tanzania, who was on a visit to China, said on12 December that “China threat” drummed up by the Western world was entirely groundless and essentially it was born out of jealousy towards China’s influence. The African people showed strong antipathy to this hostile propaganda, which attempts to set back the relations between Africa and China.
“These arguments - the so-called ‘China’s plundering of African resources’, ‘neo-colonialism’ - are just the propaganda offensive which aims to sow discord and undermine the friendship and cooperation between African countries and China. The Western world has all along believed that they are the only one who could offer aid to Africa, but now they have discovered that China, a developing country, could also assist its fellow developing nations in Africa. The propaganda was just born out of jealousy. “said Msekwa, in an interview with Xinhua News.
With the constant deepening of China-Africa cooperation in recent years, contributions made by China to African countries are always under the groundless reproaches by the Western world. Certain arguments, such as “China threat”, “neo-colonialism”, have caused a great clamour. Msekwa said that the African people have a clear mind of it. China is providing whole-hearted and selfless help and assistance to African people. Mutual beneficial cooperation between Africa and China has improved the infrastructure in African countries and it has also greatly improved local people’s living standards, which is line with the principle of south-south cooperation. China enjoys an excellent image among the African peoples including Tanzanians.
74-year-old Msekwa, the witness of Sino-Tanzania friendship and former speaker of the Tanzanian National Assembly, was on a visit to China (13-19 December) as the guest of the Chinese Communist Party. This was his second trip to China after his first visit 41 years ago.
With regard to Sino-Tanzania relations, he said that China enjoys an extremely important role among the Tanzanian people, and the Tanzania-Zambia railway is considered the symbol of friendship between his country and China. “We appreciate China’ wholehearted support and huge amount of aid to the social and economic development of Tanzania. Sugarhouses, shipyards as well as two water supply projects aided by China have brought practical assistance to the life of Tanzania people. “
With regard to the cooperation between the two ruling parties, Msekwa stated that since 1978 when Party-to-Party contact was established between the Revolutionary Party of Tanzania and the Chinese Communist Party, bilateral exchanges between the two Parties have continued to develop healthily and smoothly with more frequent bilateral visits between party leaders. Exchanges and cooperation in various fields are also increasingly enhanced, which plays an active role in promoting the sound development of bilateral relations between Tanzania and China.
“We would like to learn successful experience from the Chinese Communist Party in the areas of cadre training, discipline and anti-corruption, further push forward exchanges between the two parties so as to promote the all-round development of friendly cooperation between Tanzania and China.” He said.
When talking about climate change, a hot spot issue attracting global attention, Msekwa said that developing countries had high expectations of the on-going Copenhagen climate change summit, and hoped that it would finally reach a sustantiall deal to cut carbon emissions so as to benefit all nations and the whole mankind. Developed countries and developing countries should take up their respective responsibilities on principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities”.
In fact, Tanzania is one of the countries which suffer most from the climate change.. It is quite serious that snowcaps of Kilimanjaro – the Roof of Africa – are melting and icecaps are disappearing. Msekwa also added that a lot of wild animalse country is facing shortage of water for humans this year due to a decade'