Fourth Seminar Opens for Exchanges between Chinese And African OfficialsTwenty-eight economic and management officials from 15 French-speaking African countries gathered in Beijing for the opening ceremony of the Fourth China- Africa Seminar for Economic and Management Officials.He Xiaowei, assistant minister of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC), said at the seminar, sponsored and organized by MOFTEC, that China and African countries alike are facing the challenges of economic globalization. Trade between China and Africa amounted to 6.48 billion U.S. dollars in 1999, up 17.2 percent from that of 1997, while investment of Chinese enterprises in Africa hit 130 million U.S. dollars. The seminar was proposed by President Jiang Zemin. The first three sessions in 1998 and 1999 had proved real successes which strongly promoted the exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa. Vice-Foreign Minister Ji Peiding said in a written address that the ongoing South Summit in Havana, as well as the China-Africa Cooperation Forum to be held in Beijing this October, will strengthen cooperation between developing countries. Officials and diplomats from the 15 African countries expressed their thanks to the Chinese government for organizing the seminar, and hoped that the exchanges with their Chinese counterparts will produce substantial positive results. |
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