The Chinese government has spoken about the upcoming
China-Africa summit. It will be the highest-level and largest such
meeting since the founding of the People's Republic of China.
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China's six ministries held a joint press conference Wednesday
afternoon. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the forum, to
be held from Nov. 3rd to 5th, will be beneficial to the fundamental
interests of China and Africa and their relations.
Xu Jinghu, director for Asia of Chinese Foreign Ministry said,
"The theme of the upcoming forum is Friendship, Peace, Cooperation
and Development. At the summit, Chinese and African leaders will
review the achievements of friendly Sino-African cooperation in the
past 50 years."
Economic cooperation between China and Africa has developed
rapidly, particularly over the past decade. Ministry of Commerce
statistics show that two-way trade rocketed from US$4 billion in
1995 to some US$40 billion in 2005.
Zhou Yabin, director for Asia- Africa of Chinese Ministry of
Commerce said, "Annual bilateral trade volume is expected to reach
US$50 billion by the end of 2006. We will seek more economic
opportunities during the November forum."
China and African countries will also work out blueprints for
future cooperation in various fields and exchange views on major
international issues. Around 50 African heads of state or
government will attend the China-Africa summit.
The China-Africa cooperation forum will be the third summit of
its kind since 2000. Jointly established by China and African
countries, the forum has become a mechanism for collective dialogue
and cooperation to help cope with new challenges and to facilitate
common development.
(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2006)