The Chinese government will grant some African countries
tariff-free treatment for their exports to China, Chinese Foreign
Minister Li Zhaoxing announced in Addis Ababa at the Second
Ministerial Conference of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum on
Monday.?
"China has decided to exempt import tariffs for certain
commodities of these countries so as to facilitate their entry into
the Chinese market. Negotiations to this end will begin in 2004,"
the Chinese foreign minister said.
The measure to be taken is aimed at helping the least developed
countries in Africa expand export, increase revenue and alleviate
poverty, Li said.
The Chinese government will take some other measures within the
framework of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum to enhance the
cooperation, including pumping more resources into the African
Human Resources Development Fund and stepping up cooperation in
tourism by encouraging more Chinese citizens to travel to
Africa.
Li said uncertain ties in international situation have gone on
unabated, with traditional and non-traditional security threats
intertwining, the gap between the North and South widening and the
challenges brought by economic globalization to the developing
countries, African countries in particular, looming even
larger.
"The collapse of the WTO talks in Cancun has reminded people of
the renewed urgency in considering the strengthening of South-South
cooperation, North-South dialogue, as well as the establishment of
a new international economic order that is fair and rational," the
minister said.
The Second Ministerial Conference of the China-Africa
Cooperation Forum kicked off here on Monday morning, aiming to
greatly improve the all-around cooperation between China and
African countries.
Highlighted by the action-oriented spirit, the meeting, which
gathered China and 44 African government delegations, is the first
ministerial conference of the forum held on the African continent,
and will be a significant event in the Sino-African
relationship.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, his host counterpart Meles Zenawi
and a dozen of other African heads of state or government attended
the opening ceremony, and also present are Chinese and African
foreign ministers and ministers in charge of the international
economic cooperation, and representatives of some international and
regional organizations as well.
(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2003)
