Special report: Premier Wen visits 7 African
countries
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| Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao makes the
remarks at a press conference in Cairo at the end of his two-day official
visit to Egypt, June 18, 2006. （Xinhua
photo) |
CAIRO, June 18
(Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao here Sunday hailed the Sino-African ties
of cooperation and stressed that oil trade between China and some African
countries is "normal".
Wen made the remarks at a press conference at the end
of his two-day official visit to Egypt, the first stop of his seven-nation visit
to Africa.
"It is known to all that China has engaged in oil
trade with several African countries, and such a trade relationship is open,
transparent, normal and mutually beneficial," Wen told the reporters.
"I could say that oil trade volumes between China and
the African countries are less than one third of those enjoyed by some major
countries," he said.
Recalling that China and African countries have
supported each other over the past decades, Wen said that as the Chinese economy
has been developing, China will not forget African friends.
"China places importance on developing its economic
and trade ties with Africa, and a huge potential needs to be tapped for such
ties," he said.
The Chinese premier said that China will take
measures to promote African countries' export to China and help African
countries develop by themselves and offer training for African professionals.
"On the political front, China will not interfere in
internal affairs of African countries. We believe that African countries have
the right and capability to solve their own problems," he said.
As for a Sino-African summit due in Beijing in
November, Wen said that such a summit could be seen as a platform for promoting
friendship and cooperation between China and African countries.
"During the summit, we will focus on reducing and
remitting debts, economic assistance, personnel training and investment by
enterprises," he said.
He said that the Chinese government encourages
Chinese enterprises to seek cooperation opportunities in the African continent.
"Such cooperation will help African countries develop by themselves."
"We seek to promote political mutual trust, mutually
beneficial economic cooperation and cultural exchanges with African countries,"
he said.
After his visit to Egypt, Wen will travel to Ghana,
the Republic of Congo, Angola, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. Enditem
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