(Togo First) - Ahead of the upcoming China-Africa Cooperation Summit, Togo’s President, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, gave an interview to Chinese TV CGTN on August 23. During the interview, the leader praised relations between his country and China over the past 40 years. He declared also that the coming summit will further improve these relations.

Interview Transcript

CGTN : Your excellency, we thank you for giving us this interview. Lomé’s Gnassingbé Eyadema International Airport has been operational since two years now. How did this infrastructure affect the Togolese people? Also, has it helped boost trade between China and Togo?

Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé (F.E.G) : I will also thank you for this interview and would like to start off with a topic that the Togolese people are quite proud of our airport. First of all, I must praise all those engaged in its construction for the quality of their work. I believe it is a very nice airport, very efficient, safe in all ways that currently matter.

This airport also serves the region and you may notice, looking at neighboring nations, that it is probably one of the most modern in the region and it directly impacts the lives of the Togolese people. I can affirm that those who benefit most from the infrastructure are travelers and those working there. Did it help boost trade between China and our nation? Well, all I can say is that things are progressing greatly.

Trade between China and Togo keeps improving and this will continue. However, if what you are asking is to know if there will be a direct flight connecting both countries, I would say that in a few years, this will become a reality.

CGTN: Diplomatic ties between China and Togo are more than four decades old. What is your opinion regarding the development of the relationship between our two countries over the past few years and also how you foresee cooperation between us ?

F.E.G : Relations between China and Togo, like you said, are four decades old. Some things do not change. Our friendship is based on loyalty, mutual trust and understanding of major global issues. This has not changed.

What changed, and I would say it is for the best, is our economic relationship. It has become stronger.

Amounts involved are more significant and thus more tailored to our needs. As it gained power, China increased its financial support to African countries generally, and Togo specifically.  

What I like most about our relations is that recently, they tend to focus more on exchange between youths. Many young Togolese have the opportunity to either go study in China or learn from the experiences your country has to offer.

CGTN : Which types of Chinese companies do you wish to attract to Togo ? Have investments made by Chinese firms helped Togo advance towards a sustainable development ? 

F.E.G : Investments have helped Togo grow and advance in its development. However, you know that the path to growth has no end. There is no limitation to our progress, so far. We have achieved some progress, but more can be done. There are tens of millions of jobs about to be delocalized. So, any Chinese firm ready to delocalize is most welcome.

Regarding our preferred sectors for new investments, I would obviously say agriculture since it is the most important for our economy. Our agricultural sector needs to be modernized and industrialized, transformed into an agro-industry. I would say we need Chinese firms to invest in that sector.   

As you may know, in Togo, and some other African nations, there are many young people and for those, the greatest concern is getting a job. We will do everything to create these jobs.

CGTN : In September, Beijing will host the China-Africa Cooperation Summit. You will be present and will meet China’s President Xi Jinping. What are your expectations for this meeting and what impact do you believe this forum will have on relations between China and Africa ?

F.E.G : I think this will be an important summit. As we look around, we can see how the world has changed. We see how the behavior of some powerful economies has changed. The world has become an unpredictable place.

As for China and Africa who are old allies and friends, we need to preserve stability. We also need to assess our perception of political and diplomatic developments actually taking place. 

While some economic powers try to do things on their own, the foundation of the relationship between China and Africa lies in dialogue, focusing on a win-win cooperation. Both sides win.

I would like to discuss with President Xi Jinping about the various threats the world actually faces like terrorism and global warming. I know he, just like us, is concerned about those and would do everything to preserve peace everywhere it is threatened and most importantly promote multilateralism. That is it for political and diplomatic aspects. 

In regards to economy, I believe we will have the opportunity to discuss a major project, which I praise, the “One Belt, One Road” project. We will discuss how Africa can contribute to this ambitious, generous, and revolutionary project. You know, it is quite rare to see a country, even a huge one such as China which is currently the world’s second leading economic power, launch such a major project that would involve almost every continent.

CGTN : The coming summit’s focus is the Belt and Road Initiative and this event aims to reinforce relations between China and Africa. How do you think the Belt and Road Initiative can improve China-Africa cooperation and what do you think of President Xi Jinping’s idea to build a Community of Common Destiny with Mankind ?

F.E.G : First I praise this idea to make the connection between the two. You see, looking at the world’s actual globalization, the main challenge is a rise above inequalities. Rich people are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. So with such inequalities, how can we talk about a Community of Common Destiny ? That is why, I laud the Belt and Road Initiative.

What matters is creating adequate conditions for the less fortunate so that they can aspire to wealth and get out of poverty which they live in daily. I also recently read President Xi Jinping’s book on ways to fight poverty so I find there, a common challenge we are facing.

If things continue as they are at the moment, there is no hope for a Community of Common Destiny.

However, building a community of common destiny should not be a mere slogan. Achieving this goal can only be done through action and the “One Belt, One Road” project is an action. So, I can make a connection between the President’s idea and the “Belt and Road Initiative”. Now, my wish, like I said earlier on, is for Africa to benefit and deserve whatever position it will be given in this major project.

Our first ambition is to ensure peace on the continent. With peace, we can move on to other things.