GREAT IMPORTANCE TO SINO-AFRICAN RELATIONS

    "The upcoming fourth ministerial meeting of the FOCAC will lay out the blueprint of China-Africa cooperation for the coming three years," said ambassador Ibrahim Ali Hassan, secretary general of the fourth ministerial meeting of the FOCAC.

    He said he believed the meeting will open a new chapter for Chinese-African friendship.

    According to Hassan, the theme of the meeting is to further the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership and seek sustainable development, especially the collaboration between the two sides during the global financial crisis.

    Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and some African heads of state or government are expected to attend the opening ceremony of the FOCAC fourth ministerial meeting.

    Participants will review how the consensus of the Beijing Summit had been implemented, added Hassan.

    This summit will also adopt a Sharm el-Sheikh Declaration and an action plan to chart the path for further China-Africa cooperation from 2010 to 2012.

    The meeting of senior officials is to start on Nov. 6, and the third meeting of Chinese-African entrepreneurs will be held on Nov.7.

    Zaeid el-Sabban, consultant of Arab League chief for Africa's affairs said, "China-Africa Forum comes at an important time as it will concentrate on the economic issues, especially the development and investment ones."

    "The Chinese development presence in Africa is more advanced, but we want China to establish more strong economic connections with Africa," he said.

    In a press briefing, Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhai Jun said the global economic crisis is spreading, hence, under such circumstances, this summit will be significant for further China-Africa cooperation.

    "China will, as always, provide assistance to African countries to the best of its capability, and help African countries to achieve economic and social development," said Chinese Foreign Minster Yang Jiechi.

    Yang said in an interview with Xinhua that the meeting is another important occasion to bolster China-Africa friendship and cooperation since the Beijing Summit, and it is of great importance to China-Africa relations in the new age.