Wen speaks at 4th Ministerial Meeting of FOCAC

2009-11-08 18:04 BJT

Full Text: Wen's Speech at FOCAC Meeting

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Sunday delivered a speech entitled "Building the New Type of China-Africa Strategic Partnership" at the opening ceremony of the 4th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. The following is the full text of the speech.

Building the New Type of China-Africa Strategic Partnership

Speech by Wen Jiabao

Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China

At the Opening Ceremony of the 4th Ministerial Conference of

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation

Your Excellency President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak,

Your Excellencies Heads of State and Government,

Your Excellency Mr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the AU Commission,

Your Excellencies Heads of Delegation, Ministers and Ambassadors,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to join you in the beautiful coastal city of Sharm El Sheikh on the occasion of the 4th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). This conference gives us the opportunity to renew friendship and explore ways to further cooperation. As the Premier of the co-chair country of the conference, I would like to extend, on behalf of the Chinese government, a warm welcome to all the participants and express sincere thanks to the government of Egypt for the thoughtful preparations and arrangements it has made for the conference.

Since its founding nine years ago, FOCAC has played a major role in guiding and promoting the development of China-Africa relations and become a bridge of friendship and a platform of cooperation between China and Africa. In the three years since the Beijing Summit in particular, the two sides have worked together to build the new type of strategic partnership featuring political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchanges. Together, we have opened a new chapter in China-Africa cooperation.