When it comes to poor and backward countries, I think the first thing that comes to mind is India, Myanmar, Laos and other countries, but I don't know if you have noticed that when we describe these countries as poor, we call them "one of the poorest countries" rather than "the poorest countries". Today, Ziyuan will introduce you to a country that was once the "poorest and most backward" country in the world, but the Wenchuan earthquake donated 40,000 yuan to China, and now it is developing rapidly with aid.
▲Mozambican scenery
The country, Mozambique in southern Africa, gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and has an area of about 799,400 square kilometers and a population of 29,496,000 (2018 data). Why is Mozambique the poorest and most backward country in the world? According to 2018 economic data statistics, in 2018, Mozambique's per capita GDP was only 490.17 US dollars, that is to say, Mozambique's per capita GDP is only one month's salary of ordinary employees in China's second- and third-tier cities, and even compared with it. What's more, in difficult times, Mozambique's unemployment rate was even as high as more than 80 per cent, and the entire country's economy stagnated. From this perspective, Mozambique is deservedly the poorest country in the world.
▲ Mozambicans
In 1507, the Portuguese invaded the island of Mozambique and took control of several important ports off the coast of Mozambique. In this way, Mozambique has struggled to survive the exploitation and oppression of Portugal and the constant resistance to colonial rule in modern times. One of the most famous rebellions was in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries AD, when the anti-Portuguese struggle between Ngoni Chief Gengenhana and The Shona Chiefs Umtasa and Mapundra dealt a heavy blow to Portuguese colonial rule and almost expelled Portugal from Mozambique, but Mozambique was ultimately weak, and this anti-Portuguese struggle was still strongly suppressed by Portugal, but mozambique's national independence struggle has become an inevitable trend.
▲ Tourist beach in Mozambique
After years of fighting, the Portuguese government was already exhausted, and coupled with the coup d'état in Portugal in 1972, Mozambique's independence was just around the corner. On 25 June 1975, Mozambique officially declared its independence from years of Portuguese colonial rule, and Mozambique's founding president, Zamora Moises Machel, carried out a series of reforms to develop Mozambique. However, Mozambique had just become independent at that time, and the domestic regime was not stable, so there was no suitable environment for economic development, and the economy was not able to develop slowly until after 1992.
▲ Mozambicans harvest cassava
After independence, Mozambique has always pursued a foreign policy of "making friends and not making enemies" and advocated the establishment of a new international political and economic order. As a result, Mozambique established friendly diplomatic relations with China at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and after decades of development, China and Mozambique have already established a profound diplomatic friendship, which has laid a good foundation for Mozambique's subsequent development of foreign aid. According to statistics, after the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Mozambique, it has been providing a large amount of funds and technology to help Mozambique develop, such as the construction of 23 infrastructure construction projects such as the construction of the National Stadium in Mozambique, as well as the support of agricultural technology, which has greatly promoted the development of Mozambique. At the same time, in 2001, in order to alleviate the development pressure on Mozambique, China also cancelled a total of $294 million of Mozambique's debt.
Swearing-in ceremony of the President of Mozambique
In addition, in addition to political and economic exchanges, the two countries also have extensive and in-depth cooperation in culture and education. The two countries not only held separate visits to each other by educational and cultural delegations, but China also accepted many students from Mozambique to study in China, and Mozambique has always remembered China's selfless help. In 2008, the news of the outbreak of the Wenchuan earthquake in China caused a sensation in the world, and Mozambique immediately donated 40,000 yuan to China for disaster relief. Many people may feel that 40,000 yuan is not worth mentioning, and no one has donated much, but this money was a good gift for Mozambique at that time. Mozambique's tight pockets can be seen from the president of Mozambique's long absence from relevant United Nations meetings because he cannot afford round-trip air tickets.
▲Old photo of "Wenchuan Earthquake"
As the saying goes, "It is easy to add flowers to the icing on the cake, but it is difficult to send charcoal in the snow". China reached out to Mozambique in its most difficult times, and Mozambique also reached out to Help china in times of distress, so how can the two countries not establish a deep friendship! For many years, the two countries have benefited from each other, and today's Mozambique has continued to rise in economic development with the support of China for many years, with an annual growth rate of about 10%, and many domestic infrastructures are constantly improving. In addition, the top priority in promoting economic development – Mozambique's industrial system has been gradually improved with the help of China, and a variety of industrial industries have been established. Mozambique has long since shed its title of "poorest country", and the happy life that the Mozambican people aspire to is gradually realizing.
Resources:
Chronicles of nations: Mozambique