China’s top diplomat hits out at critics for ‘defaming and attacking’ its role in Africa
- China’s involvement in the continent has faced increasing accusations of ‘debt trap diplomacy’ but Yang Jiechi defended Beijing’s role against ‘groundless accusations’
- Yang was speaking after visiting Uganda, Senegal and Republic of Congo, where China has invested billions of dollars
China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi has lashed out against unnamed parties who “defame and attack” his country’s role in Africa following a visit to the continent.
Yang said “some people who are unhappy about growing China-Africa relations have made groundless accusations”, telling state news agency Xinhua: “Those who attempt to sow discord between China and Africa will find no audience in Africa; and those who try to undermine China-Africa friendship are doomed to fail.”
As China grows its trade ties with Africa countries and increases its investments there, it has faced accusations of embracing “neocolonialism” and setting up “debt traps” for African countries, which run up debts they struggle to repay.
Beijing has consistently denied these accusations.
Yang, the director of the Communist Party’s Office of Foreign Affairs, was speaking in Senegal at the end of five-day visit last week that also included stops in Uganda and the Republic of Congo.