China renews strategic partnership with Africa

Accra, Dec. 2, GNA - China's strategic partnership with Africa, received a boost on Thursday when the Asian giant renewed it commitment to improve the viability of African trade unions on the continent. "China is ready to support all regional and sub-regional bodies to further the development agenda of the African people," Gong Jianzhong, China's

Ambassador said at the inauguration of the five million-dollar Chinese funded dormitory block of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity's (OATUU) Kwame Nkrumah Labour College in Accra. He said the increasing co-operation between China and African trade unions underscored the importance his country attached to building ties that were beneficial to Chinese and African workers. The dormitory project, which would enhance the vision of the College to train present and future African trade union leaders, was designed by Nigerian and Ghanaian architects and constructed by the International China Construction Company.

The facility furnished and equipped would house about 172 students. Gong expressed optimism that the project would deepen the cord of friendship between China and Africa. Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), Wang Yupu extolled the level of co-operation between Chinese and African labour movements, which he said had "stood the test of time". He said the facility, which the ACFTU provided some $150,000 to fence, would become "a bridge of friendship and a new platform for co-operation between Chinese and African trade unions". "We should use this opportunity to uplift trade unions for the mutual benefit of both Chinese and African workers," he said. Ghana's Employment and Social Welfare Minister, Enoch Teye Mensah who performed the inaugural ceremony said the event marked a decisive step forward in the history of the African labour movement. He said Ghana would continue to play its part in supporting the OATUU Secretariat to function in the interest of the continent. The minister expressed gratitude to the governments of Nigeria, Sudan and Botswana for their annual subventions that kept the OATUU going. Mr Mensah called on the African private sector to contribute to the OATUU to help develop the enormous human resource of the African trade union movement.

He appealed to other African countries to fulfil their pledges to the OATUU to enable it complete the college's auditorium, classrooms, administration and library blocks. He commended the African Union Commission, the International Labour Organisation and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa for the financial and technical support to the OATUU. Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu, Secretary-General of the OATUU expressed gratitude to China for the "practical solidarity" with African workers and trade Unions.