Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, has said China will work with other G20 members to implement the debt service suspension initiative to ease the debt burden of Nigeria and other African countries.
In a statement by China’s Consul General in Lagos, Chu Maoming, the minister said this while responding to a question asked by an African journalist at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual Chinese national legislative session on Sunday.

Yi, who is concurrently a state councillor (equivalent of deputy prime minister) of China’s cabinet, stated that China and Africa were good brothers.

“China is also considering further bilateral support for African countries under the greatest strain to help African brothers and sisters through this difficult time,” he stated.

He also said,

“Our people, having fought shoulder to shoulder for national liberation, are partners for common development. A few years back, we were together fighting Ebola.”

The minister said he agreed with the African Union Commission that “Africa and China are friends and, more importantly, comrades in arm. Nothing can change or damage this friendship.”

He stated that in the battle against COVID-19, China and Africa had again stood by each other.

Over 50 African leaders had expressed solidarity and support in phone calls or public statements, he noted.