Special report:  Jia Qinglin visits four African countries

    NAIROBI, April 24 (Xinhua) - China's growing trade with Africa will not cause imbalance in Africa's trade structure or hurt its economic interests, said top Chinese political advisor Jia Qinglin on Tuesday.

    Addressing more than 400 officials and entrepreneurs at the opening ceremony of the China-Kenya Economic and Commercial Cooperation Forum, Jia said statistics show that since its reform and opening-up program began, China has contributed to 14 percent of annual world economic growth.

    Foreign investors have made substantial returns on their investment in China and overseas investment by Chinese enterprises has created nearly 10 million job opportunities for recipient countries and regions, Jia noted.

    "It is estimated that about 20 percent of Africa's economic growth is attributable to China' s trade with Africa," said the chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), who arrived in Nairobi Monday on an official good-will visit.

    He said China has made a total investment of 11.7 billion dollars and completed nearly 900 projects in Africa by the end of 2006.

    In a speech to the forum, Vice President of Kenya Moody Awori said the East African country encourages Chinese enterprises to exploit investment opportunities in Africa.

    "There are over 67 Chinese enterprises operating in Kenya in various fields ranging from manufacturing, construction, agriculture, import and export, retailing, to tourism, and catering," said Awori.

    "This is a good beginning and we welcome more Chinese enterprises to follow suit," he said.

    Kenya is the final leg of Jia's visit to four African countries, which has already taken him to Tunisia, Ghana and Zimbabwe.