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Interview: China-Africa Cooperation Forum to Promote Understanding
The forthcoming China-Africa Cooperation Forum scheduled for October 10-12 in Beijing, China, is a great initiative to promote mutual understanding and economic cooperation between China and African countries, a senior Ethiopian official has said.
The forum will be a reflection of the long-standing friendship and brotherly relations between the peoples of China and Africa, said Vice Minister of Economic Development and Cooperation Mulatu Teshome in an interview with Xinhua recently.
Mulatu, 43, is one of the few Ethiopian government officials who are familiar with China, and speaks fluent Chinese. He majored in philosophy and international politics when he was a student in Beijing in 1976.
"I studied in China for 10 years and got the Doctor of Philosophy," Mulatu introduced himself proudly.
As an expert on China, Mulatu applauded the great success that China has achieved in the implementation of reform and opening policy for more than 20 years.
He said that China's rapid development has proved that developing countries could turn out to be developed if they pursue right policies.
"China, a developing country and the most populous nation in the world, is the hope of other developing countries," he said.
He expressed the belief that the first ever China-Africa Cooperation Forum will breathe new life into the existing friendly relations between the two sides, and their sustained and close political ties will lay solid foundation for bilateral economic cooperation.
China has always been on the side of the African people during their struggle for liberation and construction, while governments of African countries are also giving their support to the one-China policy in the international arena.
"This long-standing political relations and excellent friendship can be backed up with specific cooperation in trade and industrial areas," Mulatu said, adding that Africa has a big market and is rich in diversified resources, thus making it attractive to investors.
Mulatu said that the forthcoming forum will provide Ethiopia with an opportunity to express its views on issues of concern to itself and to Africans in general, like regional conflicts, poverty, debts and unbalanced trade.
He said Ethiopia and China have been enjoying good relations since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1970. "We share common positions on most international affairs. We have been extending principled support to the one-China policy while China has been assisting Ethiopia in many areas."
He spoke highly of the 33.49-kilometer Addis Ababa Ring Road project which is being constructed by the Chinese Road and Bridge Corporation. The bigger part of the road is due to be operational at the end of 2001.
Currently, Chinese companies are involved in the management of Ethiopian textile factories in addition to road, hydropower and natural gas projects.
"We want to see more Chinese enterprises coming to our country to introduce their know-how because we want to have our natural resources converted into products," he said.
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