””””ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Yang Wenchang
said here Monday that the Chinese government "follows African development
closely and has attached importance to expanding and deepening
mutually beneficial cooperation with all African countries."
””””Speaking at the opening session of the Senior Official Meeting (SOM) of the
China-Africa Cooperation Forum, Yang said, "we are ready to work with African
countries in discussing and materializing the follow-up work of the Forum on
China-Africa Cooperation and, through our concrete actions, support the
implementation of the strategy of economic and social progress of the African
continent."
””””China will continue to encourage the rest of the international community to
provide tangible assistance for African countries to achieve stability and
pursue growth within the framework of the United Nations so as to contribute to
the rejuvenation of the African continent and its integration with the
international community, according to Yang.
””””The SOM, the first one to be held in the wake of the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation-Ministerial Conference Beijing 2000 and also the first time for the
SOM to be held on the African continent, will mainly review the implementation
of the documents adopted at the Beijing Conference.
””””It also has an important task of making preparations for the next
Ministerial Conference and will discuss issues on the cooperation between the
Forum and New Partnership on Africa's Development (NEPAD).
””””He said since the conclusion of the Beijing Conference, the Chinese side
and the African side have made joint efforts to vigorously press ahead with the
implementation of the follow-up actions of the forum and achieved notable
progress.
””””Talking about the current situation in Africa, Yang noted the African
continent in recent years has witnessed many positive changes, and the situation
in some regional hot spots has been moving towards relaxation and the pursuit of
peace, stability and development has become the mainstream on the continent.
””””The official establishment of the African Union and the birth of NEPAD have
created favorable conditions for African countries to eradicate poverty and seek
development, said Yang, adding, "it also provided China and African countries
with good opportunities to further expand and deepen our cooperation in various
fields."
””””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.
””””Yang said as the co-chair, China will join Ethiopia, the chair of the
Ministerial Conference 2003, and other African countries incommitting ourselves
to the preparations for the meeting.
””””He also disclosed that the Chinese government will send to thismeeting a
delegation comprising relevant ministers and businessmenand arrange the
attendance of a Chinese leader at the opening ceremony. Enditem
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