The African Development Bank (AfDB) brought the curtain down on
its two-day annual meetings in Shanghai on Thursday, after
conclusively forging closer Africa-China ties.
ADB President Donald Kaberuka hailed the meeting as a success,
singling out the constructive range of issues addressed and an
organization he deemed flawless.
Around 2,000 people gathered in Shanghai including such
dignitaries as Rwandan President Paul Kagame, President of Cape
Verde Pedro Pires and Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana.
Speaking at the opening ceremony Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao stressed the vital importance of
fostering China-Africa ties and finding new avenues to expand
cooperation.
2007 marked the first year that Asia welcomed the AfDB annual
meetings, only the second time the event was held outside
Africa.
Discussion topics flew thick and fast, revolving around AfDB
reform, development financing, debt management, aid to vulnerable
countries and the over-arching theme of Asian-African
cooperation.
People's Bank of China Governor Zhou Xiaochuan, who acted as chairman for the
meetings, stated that such a forum would lead to a solid blueprint,
guiding the AfDB's poverty eradication and development efforts.
The two days of activity also saw a series of business seminars
go ahead on the sidelines of the main meetings, which brought
together companies and entrepreneurs from both continents to
establish contacts and foment potential deals.
The meetings also served as a good follow-up opportunity for
furthering the Sino-African partnership, carrying on the momentum
of the Beijing Summit of China-Africa Cooperation
Forum held in November 2006.
The AfDB will next convene in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique,
next May. The bank was founded back in 1964 and now regroups 77
members from Africa, America, Europe and Asia, with China adhering
in 1985.
(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2007)
