The Republic of China is committed to be accountable for its partnerships and actions with Africa through an African Union NEPAD Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

A delegation of the Republic of China headed by Ambassador LU Shaye paid a courtesy visit on NEPAD CEO Dr Ibrahim Mayaki today, to review existing and possible partnerships in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure development and science and technology.

Ambassador LU Shaye, who is Secretary General of the Secretariat of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and Director-General of the Department of African Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reiterated China’s commitment to track progress and impact of its Government’s partnerships with Africa through the African Union NEPAD Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

The Framework aims to better monitor and evaluate AU-Africa Partnerships with countries such as China, Japan, India, Turkey and Iran. It will increase mutual accountability, define impact and results, and enhance reporting modalities.

The NEPAD Agency has been tasked by the African Union Commission with the coordination and implementation of the Framework.

Reviewing existing partnerships with China in the area of agriculture, Director of Programme Implementation and Coordination Mrs Estherine Fotabong commended NEPAD’s cooperation with China’s Ministry of Agriculture.

Mrs Fotabong highlighted the need for increased knowledge and technology sharing through the establishment of regional centres of expertise in order to impact those most vulnerable to climate change and equip them with the necessary skills to increase yield production.

Dr Mayaki and Ambassador Shaye exchanging gifts

On infrastructure development, China expressed interest in supporting a new highway speed programme aimed at interconnecting major African cities and spearheaded by AUC Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, as part of the continental Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA). 

NEPAD and China agreed to strengthen their cooperation in agriculture, rural transformation and infrastructure development.