China and Africa should fully tap cooperation potential and
strive to bring their trade volume to US$100 billion by 2010,
Premier Wen Jiabao proposed in Beijing Saturday afternoon at the
High-level Dialogue and 2nd Conference of Chinese and African
Entrepreneurs.
The figure will more than double the 2005 level, about US$39.7
billion. In the first nine months, China-Africa trade surged to
US$40.6 billion, up 42 percent year-on-year.
"Although China's trade has been running a deficit against
Africa in recent years, China still hopes to further expand its
import from African countries," Wen said.
At the opening ceremony Saturday morning of the Beijing Summit
of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Chinese President Hu Jintao
made fresh pledges to facilitate bilateral trade and cooperation.
He said that China will double its aid to Africa by 2009, increase
from 190 to over 440 the number of tariff-free import items from
the least developed African countries having diplomatic ties with
China.
China will also provide US$3 billion in preferential loans and
US$2 billion of export credits over the next three years and
establish a special fund of US$5 billion to encourage Chinese
investment in Africa.
Calling these measures "pragmatic and stimulative", Wen made
five proposals to entrepreneurs from both and Africa.
He said both sides should work closer in service sectors,
tourism, finance and telecommunications in particular, to cultivate
new economic growth points and facilitate trade in a more balanced
and healthier manner.
He said China will encourage capable and reputed indigenous
companies to invest in Africa and spread their technology and
management experiences. "We will also encourage capable Chinese
companies to invest in the trade and economic cooperation zones in
Africa," he said.
"African companies interested in investing in China are
welcome," Wen said.
Wen vowed to raise the level of China's aid to Africa. "China
will, in accordance with its own level of development, gradually
expand the scale of its aid to African countries, and help African
countries raise their ability of self-development and promote the
comprehensive economic and social development," Wen said.
He said the aid to Africa should give more priority to public
welfare projects that concern the local people's livelihood,
especially those on agriculture, poverty alleviation, medical care
and health, education, sports, water supply, housing and
environmental protection.
Wen noted that China will cancel debt owed by the heavily
indebted poor countries and the least developed countries in Africa
to alleviate their burden.
Wen suggested to promote cooperation between Chinese and African
enterprises, saying the Chinese government will continue to provide
help for the exchanges and cooperation of enterprises of both
sides.
Wen also said the personnel training for African countries
should be increased, adding China will increase the number of
scholarships to African students and will train 15,000 African
professionals over the coming three years to help the construction
of African countries.
A total of 27 presidents and 6 prime ministers from Africa
attended the opening ceremony of the conference. Prior to the
opening ceremony, Wen held a welcoming ceremony in honor of the
African leaders and other guests who participated in the
conference.
(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2006)
