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CHINA-AFRICA
ECONOMIC FORUM
CONTRATS WORTH 460 MILLION
DOLLARS
The
2nd China-Africa Ministerial Conference Forum was
held in December 2003 in Addis Ababa. Among those present,
were Ministers from 44 member countries of the Forum, as
well as, representatives of President of the African Union,
and the Secretary General of the UN, International and
Regional Organizations, distinguished personalities,
including 150 Chinese and 350 Africans Entrepreneurs.
The theme of the Conference:
“ Consolidate and Develop Sino-African friendship,
deepen and broaden mutual cooperation” a review of the
first Conference in Beijing 2000. It adopted the
“Addis-Ababa action program for the China-Africa Forum for
2004-2006”. It clearly defines concrete projects within 3
year, under four aspects: political affairs, the burden of
security, multilateral cooperation, social and economic
development. Leaders and Ministries from both sides are
determined to work together, building new long-term
partnerships between China and Africa. Chinese Prime
Minister Wen elaborated on a four-point proposition,
reiterated the willingness of the Chinese government, to
help in the progression of friendship and cooperation in
this new situation, assuring growth in it assistance to the
African countries, in the cadre of the China-Africa Forum of
cooperation. The Chinese policy was well receives by their
African partners.
The success of the Conference in Addis Ababa confirms, in
many ways, the vivacity of the Sino-African cooperation in
this new situation, and translates the ardent aspirations of
the Chinese and Africans peoples in common development. The
2nd China-Africa Forum “Addis Ababa Action plan
for 2004-2006” defines openness, the principal objectives,
and concrete measures to ensure Sino-African cooperation.
China and 40 African
countries participating at the conference, will reinforce
cooperation in matters of security peace, problems of non
traditional security (terrorism. Firearms drug trafficking,
transnational crimes, etc). In infrastructure, China
encourages its enterprises to participate actively in
African projects and strengthen cooperation, especially in
transportation, telecommunication, energy and power dams for
electricity. Concerning trade, the action plan indicates
that China and the African countries engage in promoting
balanced trade between the two parties. China has decided,
to allow a Zero tariff on some products coming from less
affluent African Countries, in order access the Chinese
market. It will launch bilateral negotiations in 2004, with
the countries concerned, on the list of products, exempt of
customs duty.
The
document stated that China would continue to dispatch
medical personnel to Africa. China and Africa will reinforce
cooperation and exchange expertise and experiences with
Africa, in their search for traditional medicine, in
particular, for the prevention and treatment of AIDS,
mizzles and tuberculosis. Training its medical personnel and
the valorization of human resources will be a priority of
the cooperation.
China will organize cultural exchanges for 2004. An
international festival called “Rendezvous in Beijing”
will focus on African art. Eight to ten African artists
groups will be invited to China for artistic presentations
and expositions. China will equally organize cultural
manifestations in Africa in 2004 “ Voyage of Chinese
Culture in Africa” will include a panoply of songs, dances,
acrobats and martial arts.
CONTRATS
WORTH 460 MILLION DOLLARS
Chinese and African
enterprises signed some twenty contracts totaling 460
million dollars to mark the first Sino-Africa businessmen
conference, during a ceremony organized by the Chinese
Council for the Promotion of International Trade. Seventeen
Chinese enterprises signed contracts with other enterprises,
trade and government institutions from many African
countries including Ethiopia, Nigeria, Cap-Vert, Rwanda,
Uganda, Sudan and Tanzania. These contracts will affect the
construction of cement, sugar and textile factories, a
hydroelectric station and the production of medication.
After
signing the contract with the Chinese Construction Company
for the construction of a cement factory at Cap-Vert, Dr
Avelino Bonifacio declared that the project was very
important for the region.
The Sino-African businessman’s conference was held
I parallel with the second ministerial conference of
China-Africa cooperation.
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