China-Africa Economic & Trade Ties HailedChina's foreign trade minister Shi Guangsheng Tuesday voiced strong confidence about China's economic and trade ties with Africa, noting that reinforcing cooperation is in the common interest of both sides.On the eve of the China-African Forum, an unprecedented ministerial-level meeting hosted by China, Shi said new progress will certainly be achieved, based on the principle of equality and mutual trust, diversity, actual results and common development. The forum, scheduled for October in Beijing, will attract foreign ministers and foreign trade ministers from over 40 African countries, and many government leaders are expected to attend the opening ceremony. As one of the two honorary chairmen of the forum, Shi believed that China, as the world's largest developing country, and Africa, as the continent housing the largest number of developing countries, share common interest in the process of economic globalization. At the turn of the new century when the world is undergoing profound political and economic changes, to increase economic and trade links between China and Africa would help them both face up to the challenge of economic globalization, he said. During the forum, participants from China and Africa will review cooperation in the past decades, jointly explore cooperative principles in the new century, and define specific direction for cooperation in all fields including trade, investment, assistance, medical and sanitation, and education. Shi expressed the conviction that the forum would strongly consolidate the existing Sino-African friendship, stimulate south-south cooperation, and push forward for a just and rational political and economic order of the world. |
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