‘Don’t let few people destroy our fruitful relationship’

Smart grab

The Chinese government has asked for greater collaboration with the Ghana government to fight destruction of the environment by some of its nationals and not to allow a few miscreants to destroy the long-standing relationship that has existed between the two countries.

By Edmund Smith-Asante, BEIJING

Mr Dai Bing speaking with some journalists during a break in the meeting.

The Chinese government says it is unhappy about the destruction of the environment by some of its nationals in Ghana and has indicated its readiness to collaborate with authorities in Ghana to stop it.

China has also asked Ghana not to allow the misdeeds of few people it describes as illegal immigrants in Ghana to destroy its years of friendship and fruitful cooperation.

The deputy Director General of the China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dai Bing shared these sentiments when the Daily Graphic asked what the government of China was doing to salvage the bad reputation it was gaining among Ghanaians due to the nefarious activities of some of its nationals in the country.

“Nowadays a lot of people are working in Ghana. Some of them are illegally damaging the natural habitats and the natural environment and cause a very hurtful impression to both sides and we feel really sorry about that.

“Ghana was the second country south of the Sahara to establish diplomatic relations with China and the traditions of our amicable relations are time honoured but today the illegal deeds of some people has damaged our friendship and this is very hurtful but I can state that the Chinese government firmly opposes this kind of illegal and despicable deeds,” he said.

A section of the journalists at the meeting. PICTURE BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE

Mr. Dai was addressing journalists from 27 African countries in China on a media exchange and training programme on Tuesday at a meeting.

We support Ghana

He said while there was the need to mobilise resources to address the problem it was not an easy task as “thousands of Chinese people are working illegally in your country. Those people didn’t come to your country in one day.”

Mr. Dai said over a long period illegal and criminal merchants who have arrived in the country have worked with local people and in order to solve the problem both governments should enhance cooperation and attack the issue from the bottom.

“We support without doubt the Ghana government in law building and improving mechanisms of taking action and China is willing to cooperate with you in addressing this issue and I would like to reiterate that we have never supported them and we will not support them,” he stated.

Mr. Dai said the China Embassy in Ghana was currently engaged in a dialogue with the Ghana Embassy and the government to solve the issue.

“And I hope sincerely that we don’t throw away what we have achieved just due to those minority of people,” he added.  

Sincerity key to successful cooperation with China

Touching on the very fruitful relations between China and Africa, Mr. Dai said over 200,000 Africans were currently living in the Guangdong Province and over 100,000 Chinese living in Africa while there were direct flights from Kenya, Addis Ababa, Mauritius, Seychelles and other African countries, which was unimaginable some decades ago.

Responding to a question on the hiccups experienced in China’s relations with Africa, he said just like Africa, China was also in the upgrading and shifting stage and both were faced with new challenges in their cooperation.

“We lack experience and so do you. During this process we should move to the utmost and the maximum sincerity to enhance our cooperation. We should share our expectations, preoccupations with each other in a sincere way,” he pleaded.

Mr Dai Bing (2nd right) adrressing the journalists at the meeting. PICTURE BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE

He stated that through that both partners could identify their common interests and work on them, specifically asking the ministers of both China and Africa to sit together to talk about the priorities of the African states and what China could do to assist them.

Mr. Dai indicated that if those were done in a sincere manner the relationship between China and Africa would be enhanced.

“If we can be sincere to each other, be genuine to each other, we can unleash the great potential and the great market to each other and there is a very bright future,” he noted.

Writer’s email: edmund.asante@graphic.com.gh

This story was written on April 12, 2017