The Chinese government has appointed Liu Xianfa as the Special Representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday.
"Liu Xianfa is an experienced senior diplomat well-versed in African affairs who once served as the Chinese Consul General in Lagos, Nigeria, the Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macao Special Administrative Region. Special Representative Liu Xianfa will, on behalf of the Foreign Ministry, have communication and coordination with African countries and the African Union as needed, promote dialogue and cooperation, and make active effort for the building of the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era," said Guo at a press briefing in Beijing.
China appoints new Special Representative of Chinese government on African Affairs
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Thursday slammed U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order threatening tariffs on countries selling oil to Cuba, calling it a "brutal act of aggression".
"We denounce to the world this brutal act of aggression against Cuba and its people, who for more than 65 years have been subjected to the longest and cruelest economic blockade ever imposed on an entire nation and who are now guaranteed to be subjected to extreme living conditions," the foreign minister said on social media.
Rodriguez condemned the new escalation by the U.S. against Cuba, saying it relies on a long list of lies that seek to portray Cuba as a so-called "threat", so as to impose a total blockade on fuel supplies to Cuba.
However, facts demonstrate that the United States is the real threat to regional peace, security, and stability, and its actions constitute aggression against the peoples of the Americas, said the foreign minister.
Rodriguez criticized the United States for resorting to extortion and coercion in an attempt to force other countries to join its comprehensive blockade against Cuba, even threatening to impose tariffs on non-compliant nations.
He asserted that such actions gravely violate the principles of free trade.
Trump on Thursday signed the executive order, which says "Beginning on the effective date of this order, an additional ad valorem rate of duty may be imposed on goods imported into the United States that are products of any other country that directly or indirectly sells or otherwise provides any oil to Cuba".
The order, effective at 12:01 ET (0501 GMT) on Friday, defines "oil" as crude oil or petroleum products. It authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to determine whether a foreign country sells or provides oil to Cuba, and to issue necessary regulations to enforce the order.
Cuba slams Trump's threats against oil sellers as "brutal act of aggression"
Cuba slams Trump's threats against oil sellers as "brutal act of aggression"
