From STANSLOUS NGOSA –

in Beijing, China
AFRICAN countries should be self motivated and map out strategies to find home grown solutions to the problems they are facing, China Network for International Exchange deputy secretary general Shi Guohui has said.
Mr Shi said Africa should not allow external forces to influence its decisions because some western countries have hidden agendas in the guise of promoting human rights.
“But development is in your own hands because you understand the domestic needs, and the reality,” said Mr Shi when he addressed 20 journalists from African countries attending the Africa Media workshop at the auspice of People’s Daily.
Mr Shi, however, said leaders both in government and the governing parties should be competent enough to implement policies that would address the population’s aspirations.
The leaders should be familiar with the policy measures in order to serve the interest of the people and avoid bureaucratic practices which were contrary to the interests of the people.
Mr Shi also said there was need to remove the wrong impression that existed between China and African countries in order to achieve tangible benefits as a result of the mutual understanding that was alive between the two peoples.
There was need to remove the perception that some Chinese have on Africa that it was a dark continent and backwards but highlight the development potential.
Removing such barriers would result in tangible benefits for both people, moreover China was still developing and she needed to strengthen her cooperation and relationship with African countries.
The tangible benefits could be realised by China and African countries only if the two peoples understood each other’s social and economic situations.
African countries should explain to people especially the local ones about the contribution China was making towards the continent so that the implementation of various projects being undertaken was smooth. On future prospects that China was looking forward to in Africa was to have adequate industrial and manufacturing infrastructure.