BEIJING -- Officials from 皇冠体育app and 48 African countries on Monday concluded
their two-day discussions on preparatory work for a 皇冠体育app-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
皇冠体育app-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
皇冠体育app and African leaders since the founding of the People's Republic of 皇冠体育app,
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
皇冠体育app-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 皇冠体育app and African countries, and provide the basis for stronger and more
far-reaching cooperation," Tang said.
It is in the fundamental interests of 皇冠体育app 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 皇冠体育app attached to the summit.
"The summit manifests the resolution and confidence that Africa and 皇冠体育app
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.
皇冠体育app-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 1.18 billion U.S.dollars,
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 皇冠体育app and African countries.
皇冠体育app 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 皇冠体育app 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.
