By Staff Reporter
WINDHOEK
November 4 marked one year after the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The acting Chinese Ambassador to Namibia, Lin Jing, hosted a dinner to commemorate the historic event, in line with the resolutions of the 2006 China-Africa summit.
The Summit adopted the Declaration of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Beijing Action Plan (2007-2009), and decided to establish a new type of China-Africa strategic partnership featuring political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchanges. It also laid down the goal for China-Africa cooperation in various fields in the next three years.
Eight policy measures to enhance practical cooperation between China and Africa and support African development announced by Chinese President Hu Jintao, on behalf of the Chinese government, have provided fresh impetus to China-Africa cooperation in the new era.
“China values its friendship with Africa. To strengthen unity and cooperation with Africa is a key principle guiding China’s foreign policy. China will continue to support Africa in implementing the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and in its effort to strengthen itself through unity, achieve peace and stability and economic revitalisation in the region and raise its international standing,” President Jintao said.
To forge a new type of China-Africa strategic partnership and strengthen cooperation in more areas and at a higher level, the Chinese government pledged to: double its 2006 assistance to Africa by 2009; provide US$3 billion of preferential loans; and US$2 billion of preferential buyer’s credits to Africa in the next three years.
China said it would set up a China-Africa development fund which would reach US$5 billion to encourage Chinese companies to invest in Africa and provide support to them. It would build a conference centre for the African Union to support African countries in efforts to strengthen unity and support the process of African integration.
All interest-free government loans that matured at the end of 2005 owed by the heavily indebted poor countries and the least developed countries in Africa that have diplomatic relations with China would be cancelled, President Jintao said.
China pledged to further open up China’s market to Africa by increasing from 190 to over 440 the number of export items to China receiving zero-tariff treatment from the least developed countries in Africa having diplomatic ties with China.
Three to five trade and economic cooperation zones in Africa were to be established in the next three years.
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