Cooperative efforts promote common development of world, official says

From COVID-19 vaccines and railways to hybrid rice technology, China's aid to the rest of the world and its evolving approach of development cooperation to spur local growth have won more friendship and support from a vast number of developing countries.

"Presidents or prime ministers of over 30 countries have gone to local airports to welcome COVID-19 vaccines provided by China and took the lead in getting vaccinated, calling the vaccines a 'timely rain'," said Luo Zhaohui, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency and a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

In an exclusive interview with China Daily, Luo elaborated on the evolving areas covered by China's international development cooperation, including COVID-19 response, humanitarian assistance and the sharing of experience in governance.

For example, following the opening of the China-Laos Railway in late 2021, an elementary school student wrote to President Xi Jinping to thank China for helping him see a train for the first time in his life.

Furthermore, as part of China's assistance, Madagascar has mastered the technology of planting hybrid rice, and rice plants are now featured on the country's bank notes.

"China's aid bears defining features, such as having no intervention in other nations' domestic affairs and attaching no political strings, which help win plenty of friendship and support from a wide spectrum of developing countries," Luo said.

A number of highways, railways, ports and telecommunication facilities that were built with China's aid have also increased those countries' trade with China as well as the global reach of Chinese enterprises, brands, products and technologies, he added.

"This is exactly mutually beneficial cooperation and common development," Luo said.

In February, Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal attended a ceremony inaugurating one of the 10 schools that China helped build in a northern mountainous region of Nepal.

He expressed his gratitude "to the Chinese government and people for their help" and commended China for its contribution in supporting his country's reconstruction following a major earthquake years ago.

In the same month, the Chinese government provided food assistance in Togo through the United Nations World Food Programme to support vulnerable populations in the West African country's northern region.