Troupers perform during the "Togo Day" event at the Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2019. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
Noting that China-Africa cooperation is based on the win-win principle, former Togolese ambassador to China Yao Bloua Agbo expects China to continue strengthening cooperation with African countries. He also says the Asian nation has witnessed big achievements over the past 70 years, and is now sharing its experience with Africa.
LOME, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The win-win principle lies in the heart of the cooperation between African countries and China, said Yao Bloua Agbo, Chairman of the China-Togo Friendship Association (AACT).
"What impresses me in the China-Togo cooperation is the philosophy of China," said the former Togolese ambassador to China in an exclusive interview with Xinhua earlier this week.
China has an understanding of the situation of African countries because the Asian country, like most of African countries, also experienced colonization, he explained.
"On this basis, China has a better understanding of us than other countries. It adopted a win-win based policy of cooperation that is not at all exploitation. I know that with this principle we will move forward," Agbo said.
The Association of Chinese companies in Togo held a job fair to enhance employment provision in the West African country's capital Lome in 2016. (Xinhua/Victor Kelenga)
Agbo served as Togo's ambassador to China from 1979 to 1982 and from 1987 to 1997. During 13 years' of assignment in China, he said he had witnessed the "difficult and exceptional" periods of China, stressing that China is sharing its development experience with African countries through win-win cooperation.
Agbo talked of "a very spectacular development of China," underscoring that in just a few decades between 1949 and 2019, China has leaped from being an under-developed country to become the world's second-largest economy.
The AACT chairman expressed the belief that China will strengthen its cooperation with African countries, including with Togo.
"All the domains are priorities for us, be it education, agriculture, infrastructure, telecommunications, technology, etc.," Agbo said, noting in particular that high technology will drive the development of African countries.
Photo taken on Oct. 12, 2016 shows the Lome Container Terminal at the Lome autonomous port in Lome, capital of Togo. (Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping)
"We are in an era of high-tech. China can support Togo first and foremost in high-technology which is a cross-cutting priority to drive the development of Togo," he added.
Also, Agbo said China and Togo should continue to reinforce their cooperation, especially as part of the current Belt and Road Initiative.
The initiative is a means of beneficial cooperation for all that will reinforce economic ties among involved countries and create new economic growth poles, he said.
The AACT was established on May 25, 1975 to facilitate the exchange of friendly ties between the peoples of both countries following the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and Togo in 1972.■
