On 6 December 2017, the Daily Telegraph and its website published a signed article by Ambassador Liu Xiaoming entitled "China's role in Africa is as an equal partner". The full text is as follows:

2017年12月6日，英国主流大报《每日电讯报》纸质版和网络版同时刊登驻英国大使刘晓明题为《中国是非洲的平等伙伴》的署名文章。全文如下：

China's Role in Africa Is as an Equal Partner

中国是非洲的平等伙伴

The situation in Zimbabwe has given rise to speculation in the media about China being an "intervener". There is also talk about the Chinese model driving western democracy out of Africa and allegations that Chinese aid connives in encouraging "dictatorship and corruption" across the continent. Nothing could be further from the truth. Having served twice at diplomatic posts in Africa, I have a personal attachment to this continent and a deeper understanding of China's policy towards it. Here are my three observations.

近日，津巴布韦局势出现变化，引起媒体热议。有些人渲染中国是相关局势“干预者”，认为中国制度模式正挤压西式民主在非空间，指责中国对非援助纵容所谓的“独裁和腐败”。这些观点要么罔顾事实、要么搬弄是非，是对中国对非政策的扭曲和误解。我曾两次常驻非洲，对非洲有很深的感情，对中国对非政策更有深刻的认识。在此，我想谈三点看法：

First, China never interferes in the internal affairs of African countries. We respect their independent choice of development model. All roads lead to Rome and none should be sanctified as the only path. The African people should not be told what to do on their land. This is the principle of non-interference, a diplomatic doctrine that China has long upheld.

第一，中国尊重非洲国家自主选择的发展道路，从不干涉非洲国家内政。条条大路通罗马，谁都不应该把自己的发展道路定为一尊。外界不应动辄对非洲国家内部事务指手画脚。不干涉内政原则早已深深融入中国外交的基因。

As a victim itself in recent history, China is firmly against external interference. In the Fifties, together with its Asian neighbours, China put forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which have been endorsed extensively by the international community. These were reaffirmed at the 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China. China does not interfere in African affairs. Rather, it believes that the African people have the wisdom and capability to blaze a development path that suits their national conditions and leads to stability and growth.

中国近代曾是外国干涉的受害者，因此坚决反对干涉别国内政。早在上世纪50年代，中国就与邻国共同提出并倡导和平共处五项原则，得到国际社会广泛认可，前不久中共十九大再次重申了这一坚定立场。我们相信，非洲人民有智慧和能力保持本国稳定和发展，走出一条符合本国国情的自主发展道路。

Second, China is ready to share its experience rather than impose its will. The past 40 years have witnessed China's remarkable achievements in socialist modernisation, attributable to the hard work of the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party.

第二，中国愿同非洲国家分享经验，从不把自己的意志强加于人。改革开放近40年来，中国人民在中国共产党领导下，通过艰辛努力和不懈奋斗，取得了社会主义现代化建设的历史性成就。

As China enters a new era for building socialism with Chinese characteristics, its development model, theory, system and culture are gaining wider global influence. China is the world's largest developing nation. Its success offers an alternative path to modernisation for others. With a similar past of fighting for independence, China and the vast majority of African countries share the aspiration for revival. China is ready to engage African countries in closer communication, share its experience, and contribute to the political civilisation of humanity through mutual learning.

中国特色社会主义进入新时代，中国发展道路、理论、制度、文化的国际影响力与日俱增。中国作为世界上最大发展中国家所取得的成功实践，有力拓展了其他国家走向现代化的途径。中国与广大非洲国家在实现民族独立、探索民族复兴道路上有相似经历和共同诉求。我们愿与非洲国家加强对话，分享经验，在交流互鉴中为推动人类政治文明进步做出新贡献。

Third, Chinese aid to Africa has no political strings attached and aims at livelihood and capacity building. For decades China has been helping Africa by offering aid in agriculture, health, education, infrastructure and other livelihood-related areas. The Tazara Railway in Africa is the best example of my country's sincerity and efforts. It was built when China was itself in economic difficulty and over 60 Chinese workers gave their lives while constructing it. I was at the handover and witnessed this landmark moment of China-Africa friendship personally.

第三，中国对非援助着眼于改善民生和提升非洲自主发展能力，从不附加任何政治条件。长期以来，中国秉承真实亲诚理念，在农业、卫生、教育、基础设施等民生领域对非洲国家提供了大量力所能及的无私援助。当年，中国在经济十分困难的情况下，仍慷慨援建坦赞铁路，60多位中国援建人员为之献出宝贵生命。我本人有幸参加了坦赞铁路的交接仪式，亲眼见证了这座中非友谊不朽丰碑。

China has aided or financed the building of over 5,000km of railway and roads, built more than 200 schools and nearly 100 hospitals, and trained more than 160,000 professional workers in Africa. China's 43 medical teams in 42 African countries have treated 280 million patients. We believe "it's better to pass on fishing skills than to hand out fish." Our aid is based on equality and mutual benefit, and serves Africa's economy and social programmes.

截至目前，中国对非援助和融资修建的铁路、公路均已超过5000公里；援建学校200多所，医院近百个，为非洲培训人才16万多人；在非42个国家派驻了43支医疗队，累计诊治2.8亿非洲病患。“授人以鱼，不如授人以渔。”这些援助遵循平等互利精神，主要用于服务于当地经济和社会发展。

China has taken solid steps to ease Africa's debt burden. Since 2000, nine loan waivers have been announced for heavily-indebted and least developed countries (LDCs). By 2009, 312 debts of 35 African countries have been cancelled, worth $3 billion in total. In September 2015, President Xi Jinping announced China's decision to write off outstanding intergovernmental interest-free loans due by the end of 2015 for LDCs, landlocked developing nations and small island developing countries, including African countries.

2000年以来，中国已先后9次宣布免除重债穷国和最不发达国家对华到期无息贷款债务，切实减轻了有关国家债务负担。从2000至2009年共免除35个非洲国家的312笔债务，共计189.6亿元人民币（约30亿美元）。2015年9月，习近平主席正式宣布中国将免除对有关最不发达国家、内陆发展中国家、小岛屿国家截至2015年底到期未还的政府间无息贷款债务，其中包括许多非洲国家。

"Real gold stands the test of fire". Whatever changes there are in the world, China will always be an equal, sincere and genuine partner of Africa, working together to build a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, and a community of shared future for all mankind.

“疾风知劲草，烈火见真金。”无论国际风云如何变幻，中国将始终以平等的方式、真诚的态度、务实的精神与非洲国家不断拓展伙伴关系，共同为构建相互尊重、公平正义、合作共赢的新型国际关系、打造人类命运共同体贡献力量。