CRI听力：Cooperation Spurs African Telecom Development

Hello and welcome to this edition of  Africa Express here on China Radio International. I'm your host, Wei Tong.

A UN survey reveals that the African continent has the least-developed telecommunications system on the globe. So far, 70 percent of the network in Africa is connected by telephone lines, but less than one percent of the population has access to broadband.

In order to improve conditions, the International Telecommunication Union, or ITU has enacted a plan called "Connect Africa", with the goal of connecting all African villages into a network by 2015.

ITU recently hosted a summit entitled "Connect Africa", in Kigali, Rwanda. It aimed to boost the African telecom industry, balancing development differences caused by digital gaps and improving the investment environment. ITU Deputy Secretary Zhao Houlin notes that the summit was a success because African countries conveyed a wish to jointly develop the telecom industry.

"African countries have a strong desire for development. They hope to progress on their own free will instead of simply waiting for assistance. They advocate cooperation and making progress together. China did quite well in this regard. The Beijing Summit last year sped up the improvement of the African investment environment."

The ITU and the African Development Bank agreed to collaborate on interconnecting all African capitals and major cities with ICT broadband infrastructure, while also strengthening connectivity to the rest of the world by 2012.

Chinese telecom enterprises began to enter the African market at the end of the 1990s. So far, the two main telecom equipment manufacturers, Huawei and Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment Company, or ZTE, have created business links with 35 African countries. They have set up over 20 offices on the continent and become major telecom equipment suppliers for some parts of Africa.

Zhao Houlin believes the surging tide of Chinese telecoms in Africa is attributed to the fact that China is a responsible country and offers heartfelt assistance to Africa.

"Africans regard the help China has offered them as sincere, friendly and unconditional. It is quite different from the US and Europe, whose assistance has hidden, tough conditions with a view to satisfying their own interests. What's more, China often exempts African debt and releases burdens for the countries."

Zhao Houlin adds that Chinese products are very competitive in the African market. Meanwhile, Chinese enterprises won praise for the staffs' friendliness and responsible work attitude.

"Chinese-made equipment is very competitive in terms of technology and performance. It is good in quality and has a reasonable price, so it is welcomed by Africans. One of my African friends told me Chinese engineers are glad to help Africa at any time, unlike some Europeans who often turn a deaf ear to product maintenance. He appreciates it a lot."

At the "Connect Africa Summit", participating members pledged to invest 55 billion US dollars to boost the African telecom industry a few years ahead. Chinese telecom enterprises will have more opportunities for development. Zhao Houlin explains.

"Recently Huawei company and ITU agreed to cooperate in training African engineers and technicians. That shows such cooperation between Chinese companies and ITU has come into a new stage."

Now that wraps up this edition of  Africa Express. If you would like to listen to this or other stories again, please log onto our website at: www.crienglish.com. You can also contact us via email through: africaexpress@crifm.com. I'm Wei Tong. I hope you can tune in to our program again next time. Bye for now!now!