Officials from China and 48 African countries on Monday
concluded their two-day discussions on preparatory work for a
China-Africa summit scheduled for November in Beijing.
"Officials held consultations on a wide range of topics and
reached consensus on many items," said a statement issued by the
Foreign Ministry.
At the meeting, African officials put forward a number of
opinions and suggestions, which have paved the way for the upcoming
summit, the statement said.
More than 30 African heads of state or government will attend
the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) scheduled from
November 3 to 5, according to the Foreign Ministry.
"The November summit will be the highest-level, largest-scale
meeting between China and African leaders since the founding of the
People's Republic of China, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan told the
African officials attending the preparatory meeting on Monday.
At the summit, Chinese and African leaders will review the
achievements of China-Africa friendly cooperation over the past 50
years, and blueprint bilateral future cooperation and exchange
views on major international issues.
"We believe the summit will help deepen mutual understanding and
friendship between China and African countries, and provide the
basis for stronger and more far-reaching cooperation," Tang
said.
It is in the fundamental interests of China and Africa to
promote their relations, which is also good for the world peace and
development, Tang said.
"Our cooperation will definitely produce more benefits to both
as long as we make joint efforts," Tang said.
Hailing the wonderful organization of the summit, Eleih Etian,
Cameroonian ambassador in Beijing, said that the preparatory
meeting showed the great importance Africa and China attached to
the summit.
"The summit manifests the resolution and confidence that Africa
and China have to build mutual-beneficial and energetic
partnership," Etian said.
The summit, also the 3rd Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC,
will focus on the subjects of "friendship, peace, cooperation and
development."
Experts said the economic and trade issue, especially the
cooperation in the investment sector, will be a major topic between
Chinese and African leaders.
China-Africa economic ties have grown rapidly in recent years.
Statistics from the Ministry of Commerce show that the two-way
trade volume has rocketed from US$4 billion in 1995 to some US$40
billion in 2005.
Chinese direct investment in Africa has amounted to US$1.18
billion, with more than 800 Chinese enterprises on the
continent.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of
diplomatic relationship between the People's Republic of China and
African countries.
China released its first African policy paper early this year,
putting forward its proposals for all-round cooperation with Africa
in various fields in the coming years.
FOCAC is a mechanism for collective dialogue and cooperation
jointly established by China and Africa to cope with new challenges
and facilitate common development.
Since the launch of the FOCAC in 2000, two ministerial
conferences have been held in Beijing and Addis Ababa.
(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2006)
