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China seeks to continue cooperation

By Cheng Guangjin (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-10-26 07:59

The picture shows humble Chinese acupuncture clinic in Kampala, Uganda. Andre Vltchek / for China Daily

BEIJING - China will seek better ways to cooperate with African nationsto meet their needs, the chairman of China's top political advisory body said on Monday.

"In such key areas as agriculture, infrastructure, human resources development, science and technology and cultural and people-to-people exchanges, we need to introduce new ways of cooperation to better meet the needs of the African side, produce more practical results and bring more benefits to the African people," said Jia Qinglin, chairman of China's National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

"The China-Africa relationship is now at a new historical starting point," Jia told ambassadors andofficials from African countries and international organizations in Beijing attending the reception for the 10th anniversary of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

Launched in October 2000, the forum, currently with 50 member states, was designed as a platform for collective consultation and dialogue.

Statistics from the Ministry of Commerce show that trade between China and African nations has surged dramatically over the past decade, from $10 billion in 2000 to $106.8 billion in 2008.

The amount fell to $90 billion in 2009 because of the global economic downturn but climbed to $61.2 billion in the first half of this year, a 65 percent jump over the same period last year.

Nolana Ta Ama, dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in China and ambassador of Togo to China, hailed the efforts and achievements of China-Africa cooperation in the last 10 years.

"We hope that China will stay committed to this successful policy," he said in the opening remarks to the reception.

China's investment in Africa has grown by 46 percent in the past 10 years in fields such as water conservation, electricity plants and communication and information technologies.

More than 1,600 Chinese firms have investments on the African continent, boosting growth and creating thousands of job opportunities for local populations.

Yao Guimei, a senior research fellow with Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the forum serves effectively as a platform to deepen understanding and promote cooperation between China and African nations.

Improved commodity quality and company credibility will further help China's trade relations with African nations, Yao added.

The forum's ministerial conference meets every three years, and four such meetings have been held so far.

The forum also held a summit in November 2006, when President Hu Jintao announced a package of proposals to provide assistance, increase investment and enhance trade cooperation with Africa, seeking to build a new type of strategic partnership.

Wang Di contributed to this story.

China Daily

(China Daily 10/26/2010 page11)