Premier Wen Jiabao: Strengthen China-Africa Cooperation for Mutual Benefit

Strengthen China-Africa Cooperation for Mutual Benefit

Address

By

Wen Jiabao Premier of the State Council Of the People's Republic of China At the Opening Ceremony of the High-level Dialogue Between Chinese and African Leaders and Business Representatives And the Second Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs

4 November 2006

Your Excellency Prime Minister Meles Zenawi,

Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,

Your Excellencies, Heads of Delegations, Ministers and Ambassadors,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which brought together leaders from China and 48 African countries to discuss ways of growing China-Africa relations, was successfully held this morning. Now, we are meeting here for the High-level Dialogue between Chinese and African Leaders and Business Representatives and the Second Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs to draw up a blueprint for boosting China-Africa business ties. On behalf of the Chinese Government, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all of you, the distinguished guests.

This year, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of diplomatic relations between China and Africa, the Chinese Government issued a policy paper entitled China's Africa Policy. In this policy paper, China calls for the forging of a new type of strategic partnership with Africa that features political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchanges, thus charting the course for strengthening China's ties with Africa in the new era. To deepen China-Africa friendship is the shared desire of our peoples and meets our common national interests. Thanks to our joint efforts since the founding of the FOCAC in 2000, China-Africa economic cooperation and trade have entered a new phase of all-round development.