China to strengthen cooperation with Africa in 5 fields

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-11-04 14:42

Beijing -- To enhance new type of strategic partnership, China will strengthen cooperation with Africa in five fields, Chinese President Hu Jintao said Saturday when addressing the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

Firstly, China will deepen political relation of equality and mutual trust with Africa, he said.

"We will maintain high-level contacts and mutual visits, establish a regular high-level political dialogue mechanism and conduct strategic dialogue to enhance mutual political trust and traditional friendship and achieve common progress through unity," he said.

Secondly, China will broaden win-win economic cooperation with Africa, he said. "We will give full play to our respective strength, enhance economic and trade ties, broaden areas of cooperation, support cooperation between our business communities, upgrade cooperation in human resources development and explore new ways of cooperation so that both sides will share the benefits of development."

Thirdly, China will expand exchange for cultural enrichment with Africa, he said. "We will strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges to increase mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples and particularly between the younger generation. We will enhance exchanges and cooperation in education, science and technology, culture, public health, sports and tourism to provide intellectual motivation and cultural support for China-Africa cooperation."

Fourth, China will promote balanced and harmonious global development together with Africa, he said. "We will enhance South-South cooperation and promote North-South dialogue. We urge developed countries to honor their promises on market access, aid and debt relief. We should strive to meet the Millennium development Goals and steer economic globalization in the direction of creating prosperity for all."

Fifth, China and Africa will strengthen cooperation and mutual support in international affairs, he said. "We are committed to upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respecting diversity of the world and promoting democracy in international relations. We call for enhancing international security cooperation based on mutual trust and benefit and addressing each other's concerns through consultation and coordination so that we can jointly respond to threats and challenges to global security."

Both China and Africa are cradles of human civilization and lands of great promise, he said.

"Common destiny and common goals have brought us together," he said. China will remain a close friend, reliable partner and good brother of Africa, said Hu, calling on both sides to join hands and endeavor to promote development in both China and Africa, improve the well-being of our peoples and build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.