Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday said he is confident that the December ministerial-level conference of the China-Africa Forum on Cooperation will push ahead the partnership of long-term stability, equality and reciprocity. 

Wen made the remarks during his meeting with Niger's Prime Minister Hama Amadou.

The meeting to be held in Ethiopia, following a similar one held in Beijing in 2000, will discuss new ways to strengthen Sino-African cooperation in human resources development, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment.

China pledged during the 2000 forum that it would remit 10 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion) of debts owed to it by some of the most debt-ridden African countries over a two-year period, believing that heavy debts are one of the factors bottlenecking the economic development of Africa.

China has all along attached great importance to cooperation with Africa, said Wen, noting that such cooperation has been increasing in recent years.

According to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wen promised during yesterday's meeting that China will provide 50 million yuan (US$6 million) in assistance to Niger.

He also said that the Chinese government will encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in the African country and engage in trade and economic cooperation with it.

Hama was quoted as saying that his country and people regard China as a true friend and are grateful for the "selfless assistance with no political conditions attached."

Hama arrived in Beijing yesterday to start his five-day working visit to China. He will also visit east China's commercial hub Shanghai and south China's special economic zone Shenzhen.

(China Daily August 8, 2003)