China is always the firm supporter for African countries in their fight against COVID-19, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday.

Wang made the remarks when he chaired the UN Security Council's high-level open debate on "Peace and security in Africa: Addressing root causes of conflict while promoting post-pandemic recovery in Africa."

China will never step away from anything as long as it's good for Africa, said Wang in his speech. 

The country is providing urgent COVID-19 vaccines to over 30 African countries, said Wang, who also called on all the countries with the capacity to provide urgent vaccines to aid Africa.

Wang noted the purpose for China to organize the open debate at the UNSC is to promote the international community to pay attention to the serious challenges posed by the epidemic to the peaceful development of Africa.

He urged international community to build consensus, to work together with African countries to overcome the pandemic while promoting post-pandemic recovery in Africa as well as eliminating the root causes of conflicts to inject new momentum for lasting peace and sustainable development in Africa.

The Chinese foreign minister made four proposals in his statement: 

Gap reduction in COVID-19 response

Wang called on the international community to urgently offer more assistance to Africa in terms of medical supply, medicines, technology and funding in particular to make vaccines accessible and affordable.

In the long run, Wang said international community should help Africa enhance its capability in public health construction, strengthen prevention and control mechanisms and build a community of common health for mankind.

He added the United Nations should play a leading and coordinating role.

Help Africa tackle 'peace deficit'

The Chinese foreign minister said the UN and the African Union (AU) should coordinate with each other closely to allow the UN's "Global Ceasefire" initiative to go hand-in-hand with the AU's "Silencing the Guns" Initiative.

He called for continued support for African countries to seek African solutions for African problems and to promote political settlements and peaceful reconciliation processes.

"We should actively provide peacekeeping funding to Africa, support AU peace operations, and help Africa build up its own peacekeeping, stability maintenance and counter-terrorism capacity."

Wang emphasized the important role of economic growth and social construction in promoting peace and work to eliminate the root causes of unrest.

"We should resolutely oppose unreasonable interference by external forces in African countries to avoid creating more contradictions and conflicts," he stressed.

Help Africa narrow the development gap

Saying Africa is a continent with great potential and promising prospects, Wang stressed the key is to support Africa in exploring a development path suitable to their national conditions.

Developed countries should take concrete measures including debt relief, development assistance, and technology transfer to fulfill their international responsibilities, he said.

For developing countries, Wang said these partners should support Africa in accelerating the industrialization and modernization process and help Africa enhance its independent development and innovation capacity.

Help Africa readdress in global governance

In his address, Wang stressed that without the support and participation of African countries, the United Nations cannot do things well.

"To achieve equal rights, equal opportunities and equal rules for all countries, we cannot do without increasing the representation and voice of African countries in international affairs, which is the true meaning of multilateralism," he added.

In the face of the once-in-a-century pandemic, China and Africa are willing to launch a partnership initiative to support Africa's development, Wang said.

He called on the international community to beef up support for Africa in fighting the pandemic, post-pandemic reconstruction, trade and investment, debt relief, food security, poverty reduction and alleviation, coping with climate change, as well as industrialization.

"China welcomes more countries and international organizations, especially Africa's traditional cooperation partners, to join this initiative, adhering to the principle of 'Africa-led, equal-footing, and openness,' strengthening coordination and cooperation, committing to real multilateralism, so as to gather the strong force to support Africa's development," he said.

A presidential statement drafted by China, which holds the presidency of the Security Council in May, was adopted at the meeting. In the statement, the Security Council makes clear its grave concern over disruptive impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has exerted on Africa's economy, politics, security and humanitarian record and over its worsening conflicts.

Efforts should be made to address contentious issues through dialogues, negotiations and consultations and convince all parties to end hostilities immediately to meet the goal of "Silencing the Guns in Africa," reads the statement. It also stressed the importance of social and economic development for the continent's lasting peace. 

(With input from Xinhua)