At meetings with several African state leaders at the Beijing
summit Chinese President?Hu Jintao said Wednesday the event marked the
beginning of a more prosperous relationship between the two.
"The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation? (FOCAC)?through its six-year development
has become an important arena for dialogue and cooperation," he
told African leaders attending the summit.
The two-day event with the theme of friendship, peace,
cooperation and development opens on November 4. The leaders of 48
African countries will attend.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-African diplomatic
relations. The summit will recall achievements, draw up a blueprint
for relations and promote a new strategic partnership.
"This summit demonstrates the common aspirations of the Chinese
and African peoples and conforms to the world trend of peace,
development and cooperation," Hu said.
?
Hu was meeting on Wednesday with Gabonese President El Hadj Omar
Bongo Ondimba, Comoros President Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi and
Alpha Oumar Konare, chairman of the Commission of the African
Union.
At the meeting with the Gabonese President Hu said China and
Gabon had boosted cooperation on trade, resource exploration,
infrastructure construction and telecommunications.
"We'll work with Gabon to deepen economic and trade cooperation
and consultation in international affairs," he said. Bongo agreed
with Hu and said Gabon supported China's reunification.
Meeting with Sambi the Chinese President said Sino-Comoros
relations were "a good example of equal treatment between big and
small countries and cooperation".
He said China would continue mutually beneficial cooperation
with Comoros and encourage entrepreneurs to invest there. Sambi
said he hoped China would continue to support the Comoros. He
reaffirmed his government would adhere to one-China policy.
In talks with Konare, Hu said China and Africa had fostered
friendship with equal treatment and mutual trust.
He expressed appreciation for the efforts of the African Union
(AU) on safeguarding regional stability, promoting unity and
pushing economic integration. "China views the relations with the
AU as an important component of Sino-African relations," he
added.
Konare said the AU valued relations with China and would
contribute to their further development.
(Xinhua News Agency, November 2, 2006)