China, Africa celebrate anniversary of Beijing Summit

BEIJING—Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan addresses the celebration for the first anniversary of Beijing Summit of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in Beijing, Nov. 4, 2007. BEIJING, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) — Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and envoys of African countries got together here Sunday, celebrating the first anniversary of Beijing Summit of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum.
Addressing a grand reception at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Tang said the Beijing Summit has drawn up the blueprint for China-Africa cooperation and opened a new chapter in the friendly relations of the two sides. Over the past year, various follow-up programs have been carried out, Tang said, adding political trust has been strengthened and substantial cooperation expanded. To advance solidarity and cooperation with Africa is a long-term strategic decision for China and a basic principle guiding China’s African policy, the state councilor said. China will continue to join hands with African countries to carry on the spirit of Beijing Summit, deepen traditional friendship, promote common development and advance the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership, he said.
Cameroonian Ambassador to China Eleih-Elle Etian, also dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in China, regarded the Beijing Summit as an innovative and historic conference, which laid a new foundation for China’s cooperation with African countries.
He commended China’s commitment to the implementation of eight favorable policies toward Africa and the progress achieved so far in carrying out the policies. African countries are ready to work closely with China and push forward China-Africa friendly cooperative ties to a new stage, the ambassador said. At the Beijing Summit of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in November 2006, leaders of China and 48 African countries agreed to establish and develop a new type of strategic partnership, featuring political equality, mutual trust, mutually beneficial economic cooperation and cultural exchanges.
Chinese President Hu announced at the summit eight steps to consolidate the “new type of strategic partnership” between China and Africa, including further opening China’s markets to exports from Africa’s least developed countries by increasing the number of products receiving zero-tariff treatment from 190 to 440. The measures also include building three to five trade and economic cooperation zones in Africa in the next three years, providing 3 billion U.S. dollars in preferential loans and 2 billion U.S. dollars in preferential buyer’s credits to African countries and training 15,000 African professionals.

—The Daily Mail, China Daily news exchange item