China-Africa co-op forum ministerial meeting opens ( 2003-12-15 20:39) (Xinhua)
The Second Ministerial
Conference of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum (FOCAC) kicked off in Addis
Ababa on Monday, aiming to greatly improve the all-around cooperation between
China and African countries.
Highlighted by the action-oriented spirit, the meeting, which gathered China
and 44 African government delegations, is the first ministerial conference of
the forum to be held on the African continent, and will be a significant event
in the Sino-African relationship.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, his host counterpart Meles Zenawi and a dozen of
other African heads of state or government attended the opening ceremony, and
also present are Chinese and African foreign ministers and ministers in charge
of the international economic cooperation, and representatives of some
international and regional organizations as well.
While giving his welcome address, Meles said that China's policy towards
Africa has always been based on the principles of mutual respect and equality
and Africa has always been a reliable friend of China and its people.
He thanked China for having fulfilled its commitment in making significant
debt cancellation for 31 African countries.
Addressing after the Chinese premier, Mozambican President and current
Chairperson of the African Union Joaqium Alberto Chissano invited China to play
a valuable and significant role for the development of Africa within the
framework of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
Agriculture is seen as the sector that can ensure food security, eradicate
poverty and improve people's livelihood in Africa and "I, therefore, invite the
people and government of China to support, under NEPAD, the Comprehensive
African Agriculture Development Program," he said.
"I will take this opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of our continent in
strengthening the cooperation and solidarity with the People's Republic of
China."
He also felt appreciated that China has signed protocols on debt relief and
cancellation with 31 African countries under the framework of the HIPC
initiative.
In his speech to the conference, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said that
the significance of this forum inheres in China's pivotal role in global affairs
together with Africa's acknowledged strategic importance in the international
scheme of things.
"The People's Republic of China is the fastest growing country in the global
economy. China's politics have always been pro-Africa, pro-third world,
anti-imperial and anti-hegemonic."
While addressing the conference, Premier Wen said the Chinese government is
ready to further expand high-level exchanges between the two sides, and provide
new impetus to China-Africa friendly relations and the mechanism of the
China-Africa Cooperation Forum through regular leadership meetings and
dialogues.
He said China and Africa share the same goal and interests in promoting
democratization of international relations and China supports Africa's position
on multi-lateralism
"We maintain that the developing countries should benefit from the process of
globalization instead of being marginalized," said the premier. "The Chinese
government supports and will actively participate in the North-South dialogue."
He added China is ready to coordinate its positions with African countries in
the process of international economic rules formulation and multilateral trade
negotiations, with a view to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of
developing countries.
Arousing big applause, Wen announced that the Chinese government will
gradually increase its aid to Africa under the framework of the China-Africa
Cooperation Forum to facilitate pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa.
"We will further open our market, and grant duty-free market access for some
of the commodities from the least developed countries in Africa," he said.
"We will increase our capital investment to the African Human Resources
Development Fund by 33 percent, and provide professional training of various
kinds to 10,000 African personnel in the next three years."
He continued that China will encourage and facilitate mutually beneficial
cooperation between Chinese and African enterprises, and encourage Chinese
enterprises to invest in Africa.
To step up our tourism cooperation with Africa, the premier said China will
grant eight more African countries the status of approved destination for
outbound Chinese tourists.
He said that China proposes to stage a "China-Africa Youth Festival" and
grand Africa-themed cultural exchange activities in China next year.
"We will vigorously cooperate with African countries in the prevention and
treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, in
the prevention of natural disasters and in environmental protection."
Wen concluded his speech by urging China and Africa to join hands, under the
new circumstances, to build on the past achievements and bring China-Africa
friendly cooperation to a new high.
The main agenda of the conference is to review the implementation of the
Beijing Declaration and the Program for China-Africa Cooperation in Economic and
Social Development, two documents adopted during the first ministerial meeting
of the forum held in Beijing in 2000.
It is also be highlighted in the agenda to explore new initiatives and
measures on the way toward Sino-African cooperation in such areas of priority as
human resources development, agriculture, infrastructure development, investment
and trade.
During the two-day conference, the participants will discuss and adopt the
Addis Ababa Action of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (2004-2006) and
among others, will make final decision on the date and venue of the third
ministerial conference.
Under the theme of "Friendship, Cooperation and Development" and in an
action-oriented spirit, the participants will hold extensive and in-depth
discussion and exchanges on how to further promote the establishment of a new,
stable and long-term China- Africa partnership of equality and mutual benefit
and all-around cooperation.
The first ministerial conference of the forum was held in Beijing, capital of
China, from Oct. 10 to 12, 2000.
The conference reached a brad consensus about establishing a fair and just
international political and economic order in the 21 century, and discussed how
to promote Sino-African economic and trade cooperation.
The Beijing Declaration and the Program for China-Africa Cooperation in
Economic and Social Development, the two official documents adopted in the
meeting, laid the framework for China and Africa to build long-standing, stable
and mutually beneficial new relations.
To strengthen the forum mechanism and better implement its follow-up actions,
the Chinese side established its China-Africa Cooperation Forum Follow-up
Committee in December 2001, which is composed of senior officials from 21
ministries, commissions and agencies.
