Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met separately with 13 African
leaders during his formal visit to Ethiopia from Dec. 15 to 16,
where they attended the opening ceremony of the Second Ministerial
Conference of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in Addis
Ababa.?
Premier Wen thanked the African leaders for taking part in the
conference, which, he said, is a proof of the importance attached
to the forum as a collective dialog mechanism by African friends
and an indication of the Sino-African traditional friendship.
He said the Chinese government attaches importance to the
development of the friendly and cooperative ties with African
countries and is willing to work together with African countries
for the advancement of bilateral relations and South-South
cooperation.
As China and Africa share the same stance on many major
international issues, Wen said the two sides should further
strengthen their consultation and coordination so that together
they could make greater contribution to world peace.
Wen also briefed African leaders on China's stance on the Taiwan
issue, as the Taiwan authority is speeding up its separatist
activities through the so called "defensive referendum."
The leaders also exchanged their views of points on major
economic and trade cooperation projects and issues of mutual
interests.
Denis Sassou-Nguesso, president of the Republic of the Congo,
said relations between China and Congo have seen a smooth
development over the last 40 years since the two countries
established diplomatic relations, in defiance of changes in
international relations and domestic politics of both
countries.
The successful cooperation of the two countries in the past
decades has laid a solid foundation for the two countries to
further strengthen bilateral relations, he said.
Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano said his country supports
China's great cause of reunification.
Noting that Chinese enterprises are already taking part in
railway, hospital, housing and other projects in Mozambique,
Chissano said he hopes more Chinese businesses will come to invest
in agriculture and other sectors of the Mozambique economy.
South African Vice President Jacob Zuma said China-Africa
Cooperation Forum is an important part of South-South cooperation
that will not only benefit the people of China and Africa, but also
help developing countries to better protect their own interests in
world affairs.
He said South Africa has been firmly following the policy of
"One China" since the two countries established diplomatic
relations.
Zuma expressed the hope that the two countries would strengthen
their cooperation and coordination in international affairs so as
to better reflect the stance of developing countries on major world
issues.
Sudanese President Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir expressed his
satisfaction over the development of bilateral cooperation, saying
that China has already become the biggest trade partner of the
Sudan as in 2003.
He said the Sudan has already realized national reconciliation
which will provide a guarantee for national economic construction.
He said Chinese businesses are welcome to invest in the Sudan.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni expressed his appreciation of
the achievements made by the two countries in economic cooperation
and said Uganda welcomes more Chinese firms to invest in his
country.
He also expressed the hope that China and Africa should enhance
their coordination and cooperation within the framework of the
World Trade Organization in the context of globalization.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said his people will never
forget China's support and assistance over the years and that
Zimbabwe fully supports the Chinese government's stance on the
Taiwan issue.
Abdelkader Ben Saleh, speaker of Algeria's National Council,
said the Second Ministerial Conference of the China-Africa
Cooperation Forum is very successful and will inject new vigor into
Sino-African cooperation.
As the two countries will celebrate the establishment of 45-year
diplomatic relations in ten days, he said Algeria is fully
confident of the bright prospect for Sino-Algerian friendship and
cooperation.
Comoro President Azali Assoumani expressed the wish that China
and African countries will together implement the proposals made by
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the forum.
He pledged that his government will offer the most attractive
policy for Chinese enterprises investing in Comoros.
Tanzanian Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye said the forum
represents a major step taken by China and African countries in
advancing their cooperation and will eventually achieve win-win
results.
He noted that Sino-Tanzanian cooperation has extended from
railway and agriculture to many other fields and said Chinese
investors will receive the warmest welcome in his country.
Sierra Leonean Vice President Solomon Berewa said his country
welcomes Chinese investors to take part in its economic
construction, as the western African nation has just emerged from a
civil war and there is a lot to be done in urban and infrastructure
construction and the development of its abundant and fertile land
resources.
Guinea Bissau's Prime Minister Artur Sanha said the mechanism of
the China-Africa forum will help establish a more stable
relationship between China and African countries.
He also thanked China's selfless support to his country both
before and after its independence.
Burundi Vice President Alphonse-Marie Kadege thanked China's
consistent support and assistance to his country and said his
government will stick to the "One China" policy and is determined
to maintain and develop its friendly ties with China.
Chairperson of African Union Commission Alpha Omar Konare
congratulated Premier Wen for the success of his first visit to
Africa and that of the China-Africa forum.
He said the African Union Commission will firmly observe the
one-China policy and strongly believes that enhanced friendship and
cooperation between China and Africa is in the fundamental
interests of the Chinese and African peoples.
(Xinhua News Agency December 17, 2003)
