””””ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- The Senior Official Meeting (SOM) of the
China-Africa Cooperation Forum opened here Monday.
””””The meeting, which is the first of its kind to be held in Africa, will
evaluate the implementation of the documents adopted at the previous forum's
ministerial conference held in Beijing in the year of 2000, and also make
preparations for the next ministerial conference to be held in Addis Ababa, the
capital of Ethiopia in 2003.
””””During the meeting, participants will also discuss the issue of further
cooperation between China-Africa and New Partnership for Africa's Development.
””””Delegations coming from about 45 African countries, plus China, attended the
opening of the SOM.
””””The Chinese government, in accordance with the suggestion of some African
countries, initiated the forum with the aim of strengthening consultation and
cooperation between China and African countries.
””””In July 2001, through ministerial level consultation held in Lusaka, the
capital of Zambia, it was decided that Ethiopia would host the next senior
official meeting and ministerial meeting of the forum in 2002 and 2003
respectively. Enditem
””””
””
””