Jiang made the remarks in a speech at the opening ceremony of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum -- Ministerial Conference Beijing 2000, which began here Tuesday. Officials from more than African countries, including presidents of four countries and secretary-general of the Organization of African Unity, participated in the forum, the first of its kind in the history of China-Africa relations.

China, the largest developing country in the world and Africa, the continent with the largest number of developing countries, are faced with both historical opportunities for greater development and unprecedented challenges at the turn of the millennium and the century, Jiang said.

"At this historical juncture, an in-depth discussion between us on how to strengthen cooperation and promote common development will undoubtedly exert a far-reaching important impact on the cross-century development of Sino-African relations, closer South-South cooperation and the establishment of an equitable and just new international political and economic order," he said.

Jiang recalled the history of both China and Africa in the 20th century, saying it has witnessed earth-shaking changes in both China and Africa.

The Chinese and African peoples once fought courageously for their national independence and freedom. They have since made strenuous efforts for peace and development. They have scored remarkable achievements and made historical progress in building up their countries, Jiang noted.

"We have come to the conclusion after a review of the history of the past one hundred years that the Chinese people and the African people both treasure independence, love peace and long for development and they are both important forces for world peace and common development," Jiang stressed.

It is the unremitting efforts made by the people throughout the world, including the Chinese and African peoples, he said, that forces for world peace have kept growing and the world development cause has made considerable progress.

(People's Daily 10/10/2000)