| Speech at the Progress Briefing on the Implementation of the 8 Africa-targeting Measures of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation |
| 2007-11-26 11:08 |
| From: Article type:Original |
By Vice Minister Wei Jianguo (Nov 13, 2007） Your Excellency, Ambassador Etian, Your Excellency, Ambassador Allam, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, At the 1st anniversary of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, I think it’s very important to look back on the implementing progress of the 8 measures with your excellencies and listen to your advice and suggestions so that we can do a better job in the next stage and implement the measures in a sound and fast manner to benefit the African countries and people as soon as possible. Your excellencies have paid great attention to the implementing work, cooperated closely with the Chinese side and done much communication and coordination. Here on behalf of the Chinese Follow-up Committee, I’d like to extend our sincere thanks to all of you. A year ago, the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was successfully held. I had the honor of attending the unprecedented event in the history of China-Africa relationship with many of you here. In order to help African countries to realize economic and social development and promote the establishment of new strategic partnership, on behalf of the Chinese government, Chinese President Hu Jintao announced 8 measures to strengthen China-Africa pragmatic cooperation and support the development of African countries. With the great support and close cooperation of the African countries, the Chinese government has followed the principle of win-win, friendly consultation, efficiency and pragmatism in actively implementing the 8 measures to upgrade China-Africa friendly cooperation to a new level. Over the past year, the frequent exchange of high-level visits between China and Africa has vigorously promoted the implementation of the 8 measures, pushing China-Africa relationship to a new high. In less than three months after the summit, President Hu Jintao visited 8 African countries, for which he announced measures such as aid provision, preferential loans, debt relief, tariff exemption, and aid in building rural schools and hospitals. Besides he personally attended the inauguration ceremonies of China’s first economic and trade cooperation zone, agricultural technology demonstration center and malaria prevention and treatment center in Africa. Later, Mr Wu Bangguo, Chairman of China’s NPC and Mr Jia Qinglin, Chairman of China’s CPPCC, visited 5 African countries respectively to further promote the implementation of the 8 measures. Chinese leaders have delivered the implementing outcomes to the hands of African people in person, fully reflecting China’s aspirations for honoring its commitments, helping with Africa’s development and improving the living standards of African people. Since this year, 5 African leaders have visited China to discuss the development of China-Africa relationship and reach wide consensus on promoting the implementation of the 8 measures, strengthening comprehensive friendly cooperation and furthering the new strategic partnership between the two sides. Over the past year, the relevant departments of the two sides have strengthened communication, consulted on equal footing and worked closely, providing a sound guarantee mechanism for the implementation of the 8 measures. The Chinese side attaches great importance to the advice and suggestions of the African side to ensure that every measure is in line with the needs of African people with maximum economic and social benefits. After the summit, MOFCOM sent 5 working groups to 15 African countries. Since 2007, the ministerial leaders of MOFCOM have visited 21 African countries on 10 trips and consulted with more than 20 visiting African ministers and more than 30 African ambassadors in China on specific projects. The Chinese side has sent more than 20 groups for inspection to Africa. In September, China and Africa held the 1st political consultation between their foreign ministers at the UN General Assembly, with the implementation of the summit outcomes a priority on the agenda. Besides, the Secretariat of the Follow-up Committee and African Mission in China have maintained close communication and coordination. In June, the Secretariat specially briefed the ambassadors and envoys on the implementing progress of the 8 measures. Over the past year, the implementation of the 8 measures has been launched comprehensively with smooth progress and initial results. At present, China has signed bilateral aid agreements with 45 African countries, and preferential loan framework agreements with 10 African countries to provide preferential export buyer’s credit to some of the countries. We’ve also signed debt relief protocols with 28 heavily-indebted poor countries (HIPCs) and least developed countries (LDCs). On May 25, Africa Day, the foundation stone was laid for the African Union Conference Center. On June 26, the China-Africa Development Fund started to operate. Since July 1st, 454 kinds of commodities exported from 26 LDCs to China have enjoyed zero-tariff treatment. Besides we’ve also established the first economic and trade cooperation zone, agricultural technology demonstration center and malaria prevention and treatment center in Africa, dispatched more than 60 malaria experts and the first batch of senior agricultural technologists and organized 165 training programs, turning out 4150 talent for 49 countries. We’ve also presented Artemisinin drugs to 18 countries, sent 75 youth volunteers to 3 countries, exchanged notes with 26 countries on 58 rural schools and provided 2700 government scholarships for 50 countries. Over the past year, the implementation of the 8 measures has promoted the development of China-Africa mutually beneficial cooperation, yielding gratifying results. Since 2000, China-Africa trade has increased by 30% annually, reaching 55.5 billion US dollars in 2006. According to IMF, China has overtaken France and become the 2nd largest trading partner of Africa only next to US. From January to September, 2007, China-Africa trade volume was 52.3 billion US dollars and the figure for the whole year is expected to reach 70 billion US dollars. Under the zero-tariff category, by the first half of 2007, China had imported commodities worth 440 million US dollars from Africa. By the end of 2006, China’s accumulative investment of various categories in Africa amounted to 13.6 billion US dollars. From January to September, 2007, China’s direct investment in Africa reached to 650 million US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 203%. A UN report points out that China has become the main force in investing in Africa. With the steady and continuous growth in African economies, our bilateral economic and technological cooperation in infrastructure construction is booming with increasing projects and rising technology content. Ladies and Gentlemen, Thanks to our joint efforts, 2007 witnessed a good start in the implementation of the 8 measures. However, a good start alone is not enough for the final success. The year 2008 is crucial for the implementation when many measures will be carried out after planning and preparation and many projects will be started. We still have a long way to go to ensure the quality implementation of the measures on schedule. I hope you can continue to lend your care for and attention to the implementation of the 8 measures to support and coordinate the work of the Chinese side. The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China which has just been successfully convened declares explicitly that China will continue to uphold the banner of “peace, development and cooperation” and stick unswervingly to the peaceful development path to promote regional and world development through its own development, strengthen its solidarity and cooperation with the developing countries, share the development opportunities, respond to the common challenges and promote the lofty cause of human peace and development. We are willing to work with the African side to implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit and develop new strategic partnership with Africa to help build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity. Thank you. |
| (Source: English Site of Mr. Wei Jianguo) |
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