The follow-up actions of the First Ministerial Conference of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in 2000 have been successfully implemented with gratifying achievements, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said in Addis Ababa Monday.?

 

"The creation and launch of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) three years ago marked a historic event in China-Africa relations," the Chinese foreign minister said at the Second Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC.

 

As the co-chair of the Second Ministerial Conference Addis Ababa 2003 of the FOCAC, Li reported the follow-up actions of the First Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC.

 

The forum as a mechanism has been improved steadily. Leaders of China and African countries have all agreed to jointly make the FOCAC a new platform for closer China-Africa cooperation.

 

Inter-ministerial committee was set up between China and a number of African countries for coordinating the follow-up actions of the forum. Political exchanges and cooperation between China and African countries have been strengthened continuously.

 

Chinese leaders have visited Africa on 20 occasions and China has received more than 30 African presidents, vice presidents, prime ministers and parliamentary leaders.

 

Increasing exchanges at all levels have shown not only in our political, economic and trade relations, but in cultural, public health and education fields and among peoples as well.

 

Bilateral cooperation in areas of economic and social development has increased steadily. The Chinese government has made good on its promise undertaken at the first ministerial meeting by completing ahead of schedule greater reduction of African debts.

 

The Second Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC kicked off here on Monday, aiming to greatly improve the all-around cooperation between China and African countries.

 

Highlighted by the action-oriented spirit, the meeting, which gathered China and 44 African government delegations, is the first ministerial conference of the forum held on the African continent, and will be a significant event in the Sino-African relationship.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2003)