China seeks common ground with Europe in Africa through infrastructure
- Germany’s Angela Merkel reacts positively to Xi Jinping’s call for a partnership on belt and road projects on the continent
- Chinese president also hopes Europeans will lift pandemic support for African countries
He also called on Europe to provide pandemic support to Africa, saying China had provided vaccines to more than 40 African countries and signed debt relief agreements with some of them.
“It is hoped the European side will increase its support and assistance to Africa, provide more vaccines to African countries in urgent need, help Africa cope with debt pressure, and realise Africa’s economic recovery and green and low-carbon development at an early date,” Xi said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel later told reporters that one “positive development” from the call was Xi’s signal that China was willing to cooperate with the EU in Africa.
“We will continue talks on how far we can cooperate and how far there are differences,” she said, adding that collaboration could be coordinated through the Compact With Africa programme, launched by Germany during its presidency of the G20 in 2017.
“For the recipient countries in Africa, it’s of course always good if we avoid having many different actors with completely differing approaches,” she said.