At today’s (5th) regular press conference of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a reporter asked: On January 1, 2021, the Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius came into force, and on the same day, the African Continental Free Trade Area was also officially implemented.
Under the background of the COVID-19 epidemic, what is the significance of the entry into force and implementation of the China-Mao-Mao-China Free Trade Agreement? What are China’s comments on the official launch of the African Free Trade Area?
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying said that the Sino-Maolish Free Trade Zone was the first free trade zone established between China and African countries.
At present, China, Mauritius and other African countries are facing the arduous task of fighting the epidemic, stabilizing the economy and protecting people’s livelihood.
The China-Mao-Maoce Free Trade Agreement came into force on time, reflecting China’s position of unswervingly promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Africa and deepening traditional friendship between China and Africa.
Hua Chunyu said that we also warmly congratulate the official implementation of the African Free Trade Area.
This is another milestone in the process of African economic integration, which fully reflects the firm determination and solid efforts of African countries to unite and strengthen themselves, promote economic transformation and take charge of their own destiny.
Against the backdrop of the current impact of the COVID-19 epidemic and the interweaving of unstable and uncertainties in the international situation, the formal implementation of the African Free Trade Area will also inject a strong impetus into maintaining multilateralism and free trade and promoting the stabilization and recovery of the world economy.
Hua Chunying pointed out that over the years, China and Africa have united, mutually assisted and cooperated sincerely, creating a model of friendly cooperation and common development among developing countries.
China has signed the Belt and Road Cooperation Document with 44 African countries and AU Commissions. This year, China and Africa will jointly hold a new forum meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
China and Africa will focus on the three major priorities of anti-epidemic cooperation, economic recovery and transformation and development, unite new consensus, open up new areas of cooperation, and improve the new well-being of the people’s livelihood.
Hua Chunyu stressed that we believe that the entry into force of the China trade trade agreement and the formal implementation of the African Free Trade Area will bring new historic opportunities to China-Africa relations.
We are willing to continue to support the construction of the African Free Trade Area and discuss China-Africa free trade cooperation with African countries, expand African commodity exports to China, and inject new impetus into the transformation and upgrading of China-Africa cooperation.
