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February 23, 2018

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Attempts to sow discord with Africa over TV skit ‘are futile’

CHINA said yesterday that it was “futile” to try to make an issue of a program on state television in which a Chinese actress was made up to appear African.

The actress, Lou Naiming, appeared on stage at the widely watched Chinese New Year’s Eve TV gala in colorful garb with her face and arms colored brown, carrying a fruit basket on her head, and accompanied by someone dressed up as a monkey.

The scene sparked discussion on Chinese social media about whether it was “racist,” and it has also been widely reported on by Western media.

Speaking at a daily news briefing, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China had consistently opposed any form of racism.

“Recently many media, especially Western media, have reported on and commented on this matter,” said Geng, who said he had seen reports about the skit.

“I want to say that if there are people who want to seize on an incident to exaggerate matters, and sow discord in China’s relations with African countries, this is a doomed futile effort,” he added.

Geng said China and Africa had weathered many storms and their cooperation had been successful.

“How relations are between China and Africa and whether or not cooperation is good, African countries and the people of Africa know in their hearts exactly how things stand.”

China is hosting the heads of many African nations later in the year at a summit, held every three years, between China and Africa.

China has forged increasingly close ties with many African nations, and government officials said Chinese aid on the continent comes with no strings attached and is widely welcomed.




 

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