STORY: Trade, FDI, respectful engagement strengthen China-Africa partnership for development
SHOOTING TIME: Aug. 22, 2024
DATELINE: Aug. 24, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:24
LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of China-Africa cooperation exhibition and projects
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SELCUK COLAKOGLU, Director of the Turkish Center for Asia-Pacific Studies
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): BARIS DOSTER, Academic at Istanbul's Marmara University

STORYLINE:

China has become a key partner of Africa's development through significant trade relations, foreign direct investments, and various forms of cooperation, all marked by respectful engagement, according to Turkish experts.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SELCUK COLAKOGLU, Director of the Turkish Center for Asia-Pacific Studies
"Almost all African countries are either developing countries or some of them (are) the least developed countries. And also some African countries desperately need foreign funds to graduate from the least developed countries list. In that regard, Chinese increasing economic interests and also economic investments in Africa are very crucial for African countries to get resources for the development process."

In Colakoglu's view, initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) are key not only to boosting economic cooperation and trade but also to sharing China's experience in development and modernization with African countries.
   
The 2024 summit for FOCAC will be held in Beijing this September. Colakoglu believes that the event will advance China-Africa relations by establishing a roadmap for the upcoming period to further enhance their cooperation.

Meanwhile, Baris Doster, an academic at Istanbul's Marmara University, highlighted that China has become sub-Saharan Africa's largest bilateral trading partner, surpassing traditional Western countries.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): BARIS DOSTER, Academic at Istanbul's Marmara University
"There is a major difference between China's approach to Africa and the Western or Atlantic imperialism's approach.
China does not interfere in the internal affairs of these countries, does not impose its values forcibly, and does not intervene militarily. It respects the independence, integrity, sovereignty, political unity, and the rights of these nations to choose their own government or leader."

Doster noted that China's respectful approach is one of the key reasons for developing relationships with Africa that go far beyond trade.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Istanbul, Türkiye.
(XHTV)