On the morning of July 27, the online signing ceremony of the China-aided Africa CDC (first phase) project implementation agreement was successfully held between the Ministry of Commerce of China (MOFCOM) and the African Union Commission. H.E. Qian Keming, Deputy Minister of MOFCOM, and H.E. Amira El Fadil, Commissioner for Social Affairs of AUC officially signed the above-mentioned agreement respectively on behalf of China and AUC. Officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, National Health Commission of China, China International Development Cooperation Agency, Ambassador Liu Yuxi and Counsellor Lin Zhiyong of Mission of China to AU, as well as Deputy Director of Africa CDC attended the ceremony in Beijing and Addis Ababa and witnessed the success together.
H.E. Commissioner Amira firstly expressed her congratulations to Chinese people for significant achievements in fighting against COVID-19 under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. The African Union attaches great importance to and is looking forward to the early construction of Africa CDC Headquarter Building, which marks another landmark of China-Africa friendship, solidarity and cooperation.
In his remarks, H.E. Deputy Minister Qian Keming highlighted the great significance to sign the agreement during the fight against COVID-19.The project is well received by the African people. The Chinese government and people will stand together with the African people as always to fight against epidemic diseases like COVID-19 that threaten the lives and health of the African people. He said that a friend is a friend indeed. With the cooperation and solidarity of Chinese and African people, we will successfully defeat COVID-19.
According to Ambassador Liu, the project of Africa CDC HQ Building is an extraordinary example of China-Africa friendship and cooperation. Mission of China to AU will continue to work with AUC to further strengthen communication and cooperation, to follow up the CDC project for its early implementation and to benefit the African people.
After the signing ceremony, both H.E. Commissioner Amira and Ambassador Liu accepted interviews from media, including CCTV's English Channel.