Taiwan will hold a first summit with its five African allies in September to cement diplomatic ties, Foreign Minister Huang Chih-fang said on Friday. The aim of the summit, to be held in Taipei, was to help Taiwan's allies in Africa meet the challenges of globalization, he told reporters, according to dpa. "We will discuss how we can help them catch up with globalization, like helping them with conservation, eco-tourism, environmental protection, solar power, improving hygiene and upgrading agriculture," Haung said. China wrote off 10 billion US dollars in debts for African countries and pledged 10 billion dollars in loans at the third Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing in November 2006, he noted. "Taiwan will not engage in a money race with China. We want to tell our allies that, when the age of globalization has arrived, we are able and willing to help them face the challenges," he said. Taiwan is recognized by 24 countries, five of them in Africa - Burkina Faso, Malawi, Swaziland, Gambia and Sao Tome and Principe. China sees Taiwan as its breakaway province and is wooing Taiwan's allies to switch recognition from Taipei to Beijing. -- SPA
