FROM EIR DAILY ALERT
Togo President Gives Interview to China Television: ‘The Path to Growth Has No End’
Aug. 26, 2018 (EIRNS)—On the eve of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) conference in Beijing, in an interview with Chinese TV network CGTN on Aug. 23, the President of the Togolese Republic Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé optimistically proclaimed, “The path to growth has no end.”
Togo is a west African country of 8 million people, bordered on its west by Ghana. China led the construction of Togo’s international airport, which has been operational for two years, and serves the region.
As reported by Togo First, CGTN asked, “Which types of China companies do you wish to attract to Togo?” President Gnassingbé responded,
“[Chinese] investments have helped Togo grow and advance in its development. However, you know that the path to growth has no end. There is no limitation to our progress, so far. We have achieved some progress, but more can be done.... Regarding our preferred sectors for new investments, I would obviously say agriculture, since it is the most important for our economy. Our agricultural sector needs to be modernized and industrialized, transformed into an agro-industry. I would say we need Chinese firms to invest in that sector.”
Later in the interview, the Togolese President remarked,
“While some economic powers try to do things on their own, the foundation of the relationship between China and Africa lies in dialogue, focusing on a win-win cooperation. Both sides win.... In regards to economy, I believe we will have the opportunity to discuss a major project, which I praise, the ‘One Belt, One Road’ project. We will discuss how Africa can contribute to this ambitious, generous and revolutionary project.... [I]t is quite rare to see a country, even a huge one such as China which is currently the world’s second leading economic power, launch such a major project that would involve almost every continent.”
He also said that he recently read President Xi Jinping’s book on ways to fight poverty.
