By Dan Ran and Xie Meihua
NAIROBI, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- The fourth ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which kicks off Sunday in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, is of key importance for China and Africa to jointly confront challenges and enhance relations.
The meeting is held nine years after the establishment of the FOCAC, which has been improving its mechanism, strengthening its effect, enhancing its influence, effectively pushing forward the development of the China-Africa friendly cooperation, as well as bringing tangible benefit for African countries.
PRAGMATIC MEASURES IMPLEMENTED SMOOTHLY
The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (the FOCAC) , a collective consultation and dialogue mechanism, was jointly proposed and established by China and more than 40 African countries in 2000, has served as a flag, guiding the Sino-African ties to new levels. Through this platform, China and African countries have conducted collective dialogues and enhanced mutual support.
In an exclusive Interview with Xinhua in September this year, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete described the FOCAC as a "great initiative", saying that it is "quite useful".
President Kikwete said through the framework which announces new concrete measures on mutual cooperation at every forum, the African countries and China have strengthened solidarity and cooperation.
The president said the successful holding of the 2006 Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation attracted strong response worldwide.
At the Beijing summit, the Chinese government announced eight pragmatic measures covering trade, investment and personnel exchange to step up cooperation with Africa and most of the measures have been implemented.
China has realized the objective of doubling aid to Africa, implemented the zero-tariff treatment and debt-relief measures to African nations and put the China-African Development Fund into operation.
In addition, a large amount of important projects have been completed or being under construction. Some of the economic and trade cooperation zones are under construction and have begun to take shape. The building the china-aided hospitals, malaria prevention centers, agricultural technology demonstration centers and rural schools in African countries has been implemented smoothly.
China's fulfillment of its promises to Africa has demonstrated its good faith in cooperating with Africa which has won worldwide praises.
ECONOMIC, TRADE COOPERATION BETWEEN CHINA AND AFRICA STRENGTHENED
Since the year 2000 when bilateral trade broke through the record of 10 billion U.S. dollars, China-Africa trade had been growing with a high speed for five consecutive years, reaching 39.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2005, with an annual growth rate of about 30 percent. It is fair to say that every year witnessed one higher step.
China-Africa trade volume reached 106.8 billion U.S. dollars 2008, twice the figure of 2006. China has also opened its market wider to Africa by granting zero-tarrif treatment to commodities imported from the least developed countries.
China's total direct investment to Africa reached 7.8 billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2008. The figure of the first nine months in 2009 was 875 million U.S. dollars, up by 77.5 percent year on year.
In infrastructure, China has provided interest-free loans, preferential loans, preferential export buyer's credit and commercial loans in support of African infrastructure development.
China has helped 49 African countries build over 700 complete plant projects in such areas as agriculture, animal raising, fishery, light and textile industry, energy, transportation, communication, hydropower, education, culture, and food processing.
Besides, the Chinese enterprises have undertaken 58 projects under concessional loan arrangement, 137 agricultural projects, and 133 infrastructure construction projects in 26 African countries. They have built over 2,000 kilometers of railroad and over 3, 000 kilometers of highway in Africa.
Amid the worldwide financil crisis, China has also kept its promise to increase investment in the African continent.
In a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua, Zambian President Rupiah Banda commended China's generosity and brotherhood in helping his country.
"China has shown that it is a true a friend of Zambia because at the height of the economic recession when some investors reduced investment operations and others pulled out, the Chinese continued operating normally," the president said.
Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetengula has said that China's cooperation with Africa is conducive to the economic development of African countries.
Also in an interview with Xinhua, the minister said that remarkable achievements have been made in the field of cooperation since the holding of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2006.
DRAWING ATTENTION TO AFRICA
The ongoing meeting is the first ministerial meeting held after the 2006 Beijing Summit of FOCAC. It is held against the backdrop of the changing international situation and the widespread global financial crisis, Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhai Jun said earlier this month.
He said the China-Africa relations are facing new challenges and opportunities, and the meeting will be of remarkable significance for further deepening cooperation between the two sides.
Meanwhile, head of African Affairs division of the Cairo-based Arab League Zeid Al Sabban told Xinhua before the meeting that "the FOCAC fully manifested China's attention to Africa."
"China is cooperating with many African countries to pursue common interests in trade and economy, which will have a strong impact on the development plans of these African countries," he said.
Mohamed Abdelwahab el-Saket, former ambassador of the Arab League to China, said "the China-Africa forum is established due to the wise Chinese policy which based on consultation and cooperation with different groups around the world."
"The forum will effectively enhance the China-Africa relations, as China has provided aid and loans for African countries to support the continent's economic development," he said.
According to Zhang Ming, director-general of the Department of African Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the FOCAC has drawn the world's attention to Africa, which also helped raise international funding for the continent.
"10 years ago, there was barely any public concern for Africa. But now, the region has attracted media attention from around the world," Zhang said.
"We feel proud that the cooperation between China and Africa has sparked the whole world, especially big powers and emerging countries, to put focus on the African continent," he added.
Special report: Wen visits Egypt, attends China-Africa forum
