http://allafrica.com/stories/200312170029.html
Africa-China Cooperation Boosted
UN Integrated Regional Information Networks NEWS
December 17, 2003
Addis Ababa
A China-Africa summit ended in the Ethiopian capital Addis
Ababa on Tuesday with promises of trade deals, debt reduction
and increase in political cooperation.
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhoaxing told journalists that a
raft of proposals, including US $680 million in trade
agreements, had been agreed during the two-day conference.
Africa is the world's poorest continent where 300 million
people are living on the poverty line. China - with a 1.3
billion population - has a per capita income of US $940 a year.
China is also planning to slash taxes on certain goods from 34
of the world's poorest African countries, officials said, as
part of a "zero tariff trade deal".
China and Africa are aiming to treble trade to US $30 billion
within three years, the conference was told.
Political leaders and trade officials said the proposals were
aimed at overcoming "imbalances" with rich nations who "exploit
and bully" developing countries.
Just two percent of China's trade is with Africa - while the
impoverished continent manages just five percent of its trade
with China.
Chinese businesses will be offered tax exemptions and
favourable banking deals if they launch operations in Africa,
officials added.
Seyoum Mesfin, Ethiopia's Foreign Minister, told the press
conference that boosting human resources in Africa lay at the
heart of any development programme.
He also hailed anti-terrorist cooperation agreed during the
forum and China's commitment to supply peacekeepers to
troublespots on the continent.
"China has begun to be more involved in a tangible manner in
activities aimed at ensuring peace and stability in Africa," he
told journalists.
The next conference will be held in three years in Beijing.
Copyright © 2003 UN Integrated Regional Information Networks.
All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media
(allAfrica.com).
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