China Says US Politicians Should Have "Healthy Attitude" Towards Helping Africa

Xinhua
2019/5/23 9:56:46

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman on Wednesday advised certain US politicians to at least develop a healthy attitude towards other countries' assistance to Africa's development.

Those people should do something substantial and helpful if they really care about developing countries, Lu Kang said. "If they can't do it themselves, they should at least have a healthy attitude towards the efforts of other countries to help Africa's development."

Lu made the remarks at a press briefing when asked for comments about the so-called "Chinese Debt Trap Act," which was reportedly pushed by US congressman Brad Sherman, with aims to help third countries escape a Chinese-made "debt trap".

Rebutting such claims as political rhetoric of some American politicians, Lu said these people should listen to real opinions of countries "they have cared about."

He cited Namibian President Hage Geingob as saying that China's loans to Namibia account for only 2.6 percent of the total government debt, mostly as interest-free loans, and that the China-Namibia loan agreements were reached through equal consultations with no political conditions attached.

According to Lu, Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi and Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh have also shrugged off the claim that Africa's debt burden was caused by China and have shown confidence in China-Africa cooperation.