The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey says Africa’s prosperity is closely linked with the peace and stability of China.

In view of this, she said the range of development goals covered in the Beijing Plan of Action for the period 2019 -2021 which was adopted by African Heads of State at the Forum on China-Arica Cooperation equally underscored the depth of relations that China and Africa want to have.

He listed industrial promotion, infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation, green development, capacity building, healthcare, people-to-people exchange, peace and security as some of the key initiatives adopted by the summit.

She said this at the opening of a two-day High-Level International Seminar on China’s Development and the Future of Hong Kong SAR organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA).

Botchwey stated that Ghana has long nursed an aspiration to become a trade and investment hub in West Africa.

This, she said, could be modeled on Hong Kong.

She was hopeful that the choice of Ghana to host the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area could make Ghana achieve that vision in West Africa.

Commenting on the ongoing unrest in Hong Kong and its associated tension with China, the Ayorkor Botchwey said “One of the cardinal principles of Ghana’s foreign policy is respect for the right of self-determination of all people.

“At the same time, we believe in the peaceful resolution of disputes within and among sovereign entities.”

Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Shi Ting Wang, said after the hand-over of Hong Kong in 1997, Hong Kong residents enjoyed more democratic rights and freedom than any time in history.

According to him, the Central Government implemented "One Country, Two Systems" in Hong Kong, allowing Hong Kong to retain its capitalist system for fifty years.

He said with the support of foreign forces, some extremists, took the amendment of the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance as an excuse and misled the public to stage several large demonstrations.

He explained that even though the Hong Kong government has since September 4, formally announced withdrawal of the bill, protests were intensified and evolved into continued violence, paralyzing airport and subway, storming the Legislative Council Complex, robbing and burning shops and Banks and the city is at the risk of being destroyed.

Ambassador Wang stated that the deluded Hong Kong residents have already stopped taking part in the demonstration, but foreign forces refused to back down from interfering.

“The issue of Hong Kong is by no means an issue of democracy and human rights. Its essence is that western countries want to use Hong Kong as a bridgehead to incite color revolution, undermine China's stability and hinder China's development,” he added.

He noted that China has made great contributions to Africa's development, and China's participation is indispensable for Africa.

He noted that China has really done a lot for the African people, bringing projects like building roads and Bridges, transferring technology and Africa has changed as a result.

However, he said other powers were doing nothing but finding faults with, pointing fingers at and making troubles for others.

According to him, some people still look at the world with the Cold War mentality, which is absolutely wrong.

“The world is pluralistic, culture is diversified. There could not has only one single development model in the world. The so-called "Zero-Sum Game" or "Black or White" is a disaster for the people of the world,” he stressed.

Ambassador Wang explained that China's development philosophy is openness, inclusiveness, peaceful development, mutual benefit and win-win.

“We have only one earth and our destinies are closely linked. We hope to build a community with a Shared future for mankind and let everyone live in a peaceful and prosperous environment.
“As long as we work hand in hand, this goal will definitely be achieved,” he added.