The follow-up actions of the First Ministerial Conference of the
China-Africa Cooperation Forum in 2000 have been successfully
implemented with gratifying achievements, Chinese Foreign Minister
Li Zhaoxing said in Addis Ababa Monday.?
"The creation and launch of the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation (FOCAC) three years ago marked a historic event in
China-Africa relations," the Chinese foreign minister said at the
Second Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC.
As the co-chair of the Second Ministerial Conference Addis Ababa
2003 of the FOCAC, Li reported the follow-up actions of the First
Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC.
The forum as a mechanism has been improved steadily. Leaders of
China and African countries have all agreed to jointly make the
FOCAC a new platform for closer China-Africa cooperation.
Inter-ministerial committee was set up between China and a
number of African countries for coordinating the follow-up actions
of the forum. Political exchanges and cooperation between China and
African countries have been strengthened continuously.
Chinese leaders have visited Africa on 20 occasions and China
has received more than 30 African presidents, vice presidents,
prime ministers and parliamentary leaders.
Increasing exchanges at all levels have shown not only in our
political, economic and trade relations, but in cultural, public
health and education fields and among peoples as well.
Bilateral cooperation in areas of economic and social
development has increased steadily. The Chinese government has made
good on its promise undertaken at the first ministerial meeting by
completing ahead of schedule greater reduction of African
debts.
The Second Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC kicked off here
on Monday, 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.
(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2003)
