Eritrean President Isayas Afewerkion Thursday slammed those allegations that China is using Africa as a dumping ground.
"Is China using Africa as a dumping ground? That is not the case," Isayas said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua, on the eve of the 15th founding anniversary of the State of Eritrea.
"There may be incidents, there may be mistakes here and there, but this should not be the way we judge this partnership," he said.
"At the moment what you can do, even the purchasing power does not allow people to go for expensive cars like Porsche, Ferrari. That is not the kind of thing people can afford now, may be the one or two out of millions can afford that," said Isayas.
"I would say those, who are saying this, have no moral authority or high ground to lecture us on what China should do, and what China should not do," he said. "This is a matter for Africa and China."
"These people have been the worst example, not only a bad example in partnership, they cannot come to lecture on what China should do, and what China should not do," said the Eritrean president.
"We cannot make judgments by those who had been doing the wrong things all the way and now coming to lecture us on how China-Africa relationship should be governed."
Isayas calls for a stronger partnership between Africa and China.
"I think the healthy relationship that should develop between China and Africa will have to be partnership to solve the immediate problems now," he said.
Source:XinhuaAuthor：China Industry Time：2008-05-24 From：china daily
