Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Action Plan(2007-2009)

I. Preamble

1.1 On 3-5 November 2006, the Beijing Summit and the Third Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) were held in Beijing. Heads of state, government and delegation as well as ministers of foreign affairs and ministers in charge of economic cooperation from China and 48 African countries (hereinafter referred to as "the two sides") attended the Summit and Ministerial Conference respectively.

1.2 The two sides reviewed with satisfaction the growth of friendship and cooperation between the People's Republic of China and African countries in the past 50 years since the inauguration of their diplomatic relations. Pleased and encouraged to note the good progress of their mutually beneficial cooperation that has brought benefit to their peoples in the past six years since the founding of FOCAC, and satisfied with the faithful delivery of the commitments in the Addis Ababa Action Plan (2004-2006) adopted at the Second Ministerial Conference, the two sides resolved to make joint efforts to advance the new type of strategic partnership between China and Africa in keeping with the Declaration of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

1.3 To build on the success of the Summit and Conference, chart the course for China-Africa cooperation in all areas in the next three years and promote friendship, peace, cooperation and development, the two sides have formulated and adopted this Action Plan.

II. Political Cooperation

2.1 High-level Visits and Dialogue

Taking note that contacts and exchange of visits between Chinese and African leaders have increased notably since the Second FOCAC Ministerial Conference, the two sides agreed to continue the momentum of high-level visit and dialogue to enhance traditional friendship and mutual trust, conduct regular exchange of views and close coordination and cooperation on bilateral relations and major international and regional issues and share experience on governance to pursue common development and progress.

2.2 Consultation and Cooperation Mechanisms

2.2.1 Convinced that FOCAC has become an important platform for collective dialogue and effective mechanism for pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa, the two sides decided to vigorously carry out follow-up actions, actively explore ways to strengthen the building of a follow-up mechanism and enhance communication and cooperation within the framework of FOCAC.

2.2.2 The two sides agreed to set up a mechanism of regular political dialogue between foreign ministers of the two sides within the FOCAC framework. In the following year of every FOCAC Ministerial Conference, foreign ministers from the two sides will hold political consultation in New York on the sideline of the UN General Assembly to exchange views on major issues of common interest.

2.2.3 The two sides resolved to strengthen and give full play to existing mechanisms between China and Africa, such as bilateral commissions, foreign ministries' political consultation, mixed commissions on economic and trade cooperation, and joint commissions on science and technology, expand their cooperation in the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other international and regional organizations, and actively explore ways of pragmatic cooperation with third parties on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and win-win result.