Stepping on the turf of Beijing is exciting for Axmed Saggar.
Like many of his country folks, the reporter of Puntland TV from
Somali had only socialistic knowledge of China, mostly from the
roads and hospitals built with assistance from Chinese
expatriates.
"Somalians don't know much about China. We have very limited
access to information of the modern country, " said Saggar who came
to Beijing to cover a historical summit to be attended by President
Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed of Somali.
Leaders of more than 40 African countries have been invited to
participate in the Beijing Summit of Forum on Sino-Africa
Cooperation scheduled for Nov. 4-5, which is described as the
grandest diplomatic event in China since 1950s.
Recalling a photo show featuring Chairman Mao Zedong staged in
Somali while he was young, Saggar said in the eyes of most
Somalians, "China has always been a friend."
The relationship between China and Africa is time-cemented. Six
hundred years ago, famous mariner Zheng He (1371-1435) of the Ming
Dynasty led the then largest fleet in the world and made voyages to
Africa. He brought there tea, chinaware, silk and technology, and
took back spice and local specialties. Not an inch of land was ever
occupied.
"Zheng He and Jackie Chan (a contemporary Hong Kong movie star)
are both quite well-known in Somali," said Saggar.
Over the past 50 years, China has offered economic aid to 53
African countries and canceled 10.9 billion yuan (US$1.36 billion)
worth of debt. By the end of 2005, China had over 800 enterprises
in Africa, involving a total investment of US$6 billion, official
data revealed.
"Somalians and Chinese expatriates have got along well. A raft
of infrastructure facilities including roads and hospitals were
built with aid from China," said Saggar.
He hoped President Yusuf's visit to Beijing would "bring more
trips between Somali and China".
"Somalians would like to have more cooperation and exchanges
with the Chinese in a variety of sectors, especially education,
science, technology and economy," he said.
As so much is going on in the world's fourth largest economy,
Saggar said Somalians were not only interested in China's history
but also appealed by its robust development.
Saggar's view was shared by many African reporters. Kato Jacob
from President Press of Uganda said, "We wish to hear more voices
from China, especially stories about China told by the
Chinese."
Nearly 300 African reporters were expected to cover the two-day
summit highlighting "friendship, peace, cooperation and
development".
(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2006)