BIZCHINA / Center
Wen: China will keep all its promises to Africa
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2007-05-16 13:47
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao speaks during the opening ceremony of the 2007
Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the African Development
Bank (ADB) Group in Shanghai May 16, 2007. [Shanghai Daily]
China unreservedly supports the peaceful development of African countries
and will strengthen its ties with Africa through government aid and
corporate cooperation, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said today in Shanghai.
China will fully carry out its promise in cooperating with African
countries, Wen said at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors
of the African Development Bank Group. The two-day meeting will wrap up
tomorrow.
"China has a deep friendship with African countries and sincerely
supports the peaceful development of Africa," Wen said.
China has completed more than 900 infrastructure and public projects to
support Africa over the past 50-plus years. China has granted government
scholarships to almost 20,000 people from 50 African countries and sent
about 16,000 medical professionals to 47 African countries.
China has remitted a combined 10.9 billion yuan (US$1.42 billion) in debt
owed by African countries and another 10-billion-plus yuan in debt cuts
is under way.
Further cooperation will be made in areas such as agriculture, education,
medicine and environmental protection.
The China-Africa cooperation program needs innovation to make it a
win-win tie, Wen said. Besides government assistance, policy-driven
company involvement on the continent is another means, Wen said.
The involvement of corporations in the market will boost higher levels of
investment and loan efficiency, Wen said.
Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People's Bank of China, said yesterday
that China will encourage companies, especially small and medium-sized
firms, to seek investment opportunities on the continent and will welcome
African financial players to set their footprints in China.
The development of African countries is full of opportunities and
challenges. Africa's development derives from its own endeavors and the
aid and support of the global community, he said.
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