China-Africa Cooperation Forum to Open October 10China has maintained traditional friendly cooperation with African countries, and under the current circumstances, it is in their best interests to promote Sino-African unity.With these goals as the focus, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation -- Ministerial Conference Beijing 2000 will open Tuesday, a meeting proposed by the Chinese government at the suggestion of some African countries. In October last year, Chinese President Jiang Zemin wrote to the top leaders of some African countries and to Salim Salim, secretary-general of the Organization of African Unity, proposing that the forum be held. Jiang's proposal received a warm welcome and African countries responded positively. An ad hoc preparatory committee was set up subsequently in China, headed by the foreign ministry and the foreign trade ministry and consisting of 18 other Chinese organizations. With Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and Foreign Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng as honorary presidents, the committee is co-chaired by Vice Foreign Minister Ji Peiding and Vice Foreign Trade Minister Sun Guangxiang. It has a secretariat assigned to do preparations. The forum will focus on two topics: how to push ahead with the establishment of a new international political and economic order that is fair and just in the new century, and how to promote Sino-African economic and trade cooperation. The forum will be held according to the principles of equal consultations, increasing understanding, widening consensus, strengthening friendship and promoting cooperation. Sources from the foreign ministry said foreign ministers and trade ministers from about 40 African countries that have diplomatic ties with China will attend. In addition, representatives from some international and regional institutions are in Beijing as special guests. During the forum, several meetings will run simultaneously so as to ensure that all the participating nations will have time to voice their comments and exchange views on cooperation in trade and economic fields. While heads of delegations will deliver speeches at the main venue on the two main topics, seminars focusing on particular issues will be held at different venues for discussions on Sino-African cooperation in trade, economic and other substantial fields. During the forum, officials from participating African countries will meet Chinese officials from different cities, provinces and autonomous regions as well as Chinese entrepreneurs. After the forum, African guests will visit developed coastal cities including Zhuhai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The forum will publish two documents, the Beijing Declaration and Sino-African Cooperation Guidelines for Economic and Social Development. The declaration will reflect the common views of the two sides on major international and political issues; the guidelines will elaborate on the purpose, plans and procedures of the two sides for boosting Sino-African cooperation in diverse sectors. The convening of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum is an important step taken by the two sides to hold group dialogue and seek common development at the turn of the century. An unprecedented event in the history of Sino-African relations and the five decades of diplomacy of the People's Republic of China, the forum will serve to further strengthen Sino-African friendly cooperation, promote South-to-South cooperation, and accelerate the establishment of a new international political and economic order that is fair and just. |
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