FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

---

Chinese Foreign Ministry Answers Bolton Speech on Africa

Dec. 14, 2018 (EIRNS)—In measured remarks today, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang responded to U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton’s Dec. 13 speech on Africa:

“What China cares about is African countries’ needs, such as industrialization and agricultural modernization. In contrast, it is interesting to see from the remarks of some Americans that, besides its own interests and demands, the U.S. is concerned about China and Russia rather than Africa.... Meanwhile, cooperation should be carried out on the premise of Africa’s will and needs and without any political strings attached and interference in internal affairs.”

Xinhua continued, in its report on Lu’s, that

“He recalled that during the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, many African leaders articulated their countries’ desire for development and appreciation of China’s support.

“As facilitating Africa’s peace and development is the common responsibility of the international community, China has always adopted an open-minded attitude toward Africa-related international cooperation, and believed that all parties’ investments in the continent on the basis of respect should be welcome, Lu said.”