��ADDIS ABABA, January 11 (Xinhuanet��by Li Dawei ) -- Chinese
Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said here on Friday that China attaches
great importance to Africa and it will continue to enhance its friendly
relations and cooperation with the continent.
����In order to further the China-Africa relations, China would
continue to support the establishment of the African Union (AU) and the
implementation of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) on
the continent, said Tang in his speech delivered at Ethiopian
International Institute for Peace and Development.
����"Establishing the AU and independently formulating and implementing
the NEPAD represent the new attempts made by African countries to
collectively take on their challenges," he said.
����"This remarkable act gives full expression to the strong resolve of
the African people in going along with the world's trends to seek peace
and development," the minister added.
����The Chinese government will build on its good cooperation with the
Organization of African Unity, deepen cooperation with the AU in future,
and support the AU to play bigger role in realizing peace and stability
and promoting integration on the African continent, Tang noted.
����He called on the international community to take concrete measures
to jointly support the smooth implementation of the NEPAD.
����Talking about the Sino-Africa Cooperation Forum to be held thisyear
in Addis Ababa, Tang said the Chinese government will maintain close
contact and consultation with Ethiopia and other African nations, and
jointly help secure a complete success for the next meetings of the forum.
����As the host country, Ethiopia has reportedly established a special
preparatory committee and actively begun preparations for the forum.
����Concerning the issue of expanding China-Africa economic cooperation
and trade, the foreign minister said the Chinese side will explore new
approaches to cooperate with African countries, focusing on the areas of
agriculture, infrastructure building and human resources development.
����The Chinese government has drawn out the "Go Global" strategy in a
timely manner to support Chinese enterprises to go abroad formutually
beneficial cooperation, said Tang, adding that the Chinese government will
continue to provide assistance within its capacity to African countries.
����He also said that China would continue to support African countries
to participate in international affairs on an equal footing, saying China
will continue to enhance its consultation and cooperation with African
countries in international affairs and coordinate the positions on such
issues as peace, development,anti-terrorism, global security and the
establishment of a new international order.
����"We support a bigger role played by African nations in
international affairs including increasing their say and representation in
the U.N. Security Council," said Tang.
����He said China supports the legitimate propositions and reasonable
demands of African countries in the new round of multilateral trade talks,
urging the international community, particularly the developed countries,
to take more steps to accommodate the interests of African countries,
increase input in Africa's development and honor their commitments to the
settlementof the debt problem.
����Before giving his speech, the Chinese foreign minister held talks
with his counterpart Seyoum Mesfin on the issues of bilateral relations
and further cooperation between the two countries in the future. Enditem
