Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji hailed Monday the achievements of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the birth of the African Union (AU).
In his congratulatory message for the opening ceremony of the last OAU summit, scheduled for July 8-10 in Durban, South Africa, Premier Zhu said: "The OAU has gone through a glorious course of 39 years, during which it has made significant contribution to African countries' efforts to win national independence and political liberation and to the promotion of peace, stability and development of Africa."
The AU, which will officially replace the OAU in Durban on July 9, in the presence of most of the African leaders, is launched to foster Africa's prosperity and democracy in the 21st century through social, economic and regional integration.
"Today, the governments and peoples of all African nations are writing a new chapter in the annals of African development by rejuvenating the Pan-African spirit and realizing the transition from the OAU to AU," Zhu said.
"I have every reason to believe that, as a key milestone in the course of African development, the AU will uphold and carry forward the spirit of solidarity and cooperation of the OAU, and lead African nations and people in their unswerving endeavor to rise to the challenges of globalization and the new century, and turn into reality the long-cherished, noble hope of African revitalization," he added.
Zhu also stressed that to consolidate and enhance friendly relations and cooperation with African nations and regional organizations remains an important part of China's independent foreign policy of peace.
"At present, the traditional friendship between China and Africa has struck root in people's hearts with ever-expanding, China-Africa, mutually beneficial cooperation," he said.
"The Chinese government will, as always, support the unity and cooperation of African nations, the growth of the AU and the implementation of the New Partnership For African Development," Zhu said.
He added that China stood ready to join hands with the AU and the vast number of African nations in establishing the new China-African partnership of long-term stability, equality and mutual benefit through the effective mechanism of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
38th OAU summit opens in S. Africa
The 38th and the last summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) opened Monday in Durban, S Africa, to pave the way for the official start-up of the African Union (AU).
Among the 53 OAU members, 52 heads of state and government and their representatives attended the last summit of the 39-year-old organization, which is due to be replaced by the AU Tuesday.
( July 9, 2002)
