〖November 4th 2007 marks the 1st anniversary of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. I would like to take this opportunity to brief you on the progresses that have been made on implementing the outcomes of the Summit by China and Africa during the past year.〗

The Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was successfully held from 4th to 5th, November 2006. The Summit, a grand feast of friendship, unity and cooperation between China and African countries, adopted the Declaration of the Beijing Summit of the FOCAC 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, cultural exchanges and mutual understanding. The Chinese Government announced eight new policy measures to enhance practical cooperation between China and Africa and support African development. The success of the Beijing Summit has made significance for strengthening the traditional friendship, deepening mutual trust, expanding mutual beneficial cooperation and ushering in a new era of relations between China and Africa.

China and Africa, both place high importance on the follow-up actions of the Summit. Immediately after the Summit, China made a comprehensive plan for conducting follow-up cooperation in various areas on the basis of the outcome documents of the Summit, and worked out an overall plan as well as specific programs for implementing the eight policy measures. In early 2007, Chinese President Hu Jintao visited eight African countries and had in-depth exchanges of views and reached broad consensus with African leaders on advancing a new type of China-Africa strategic partnership, expanding practical cooperation and promoting common development. President Hu's visit marked the full launching of the implementation of the eight policy measures. Later, Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, paid respective visits to Africa and further advanced the implementation of the Summit outcomes. Within half a year after the Summit, the above-mentioned three visits by top Chinese leaders delivered the Summit outcomes to the African people, and showed China's adherence in promises to help Africa with its development. The African leaders and governments have given full support to China and offered many good and constructive suggestions regarding the implementation of the Summit outcomes.

In the past year, thanks to the concerted efforts made by China and Africa, the FOCAC Summit follow-up actions have progressed smoothly and the cooperation between China and Africa has been raised to a new level.

First, the political ties between China and Africa are getting closer and closer. There have been frequent high-level contacts between China and Africa and the political dialogues and consultations between the two sides are further strengthened. The first China-Africa foreign ministers' political consultation was held in New York during the United Nations General Assembly in late September this year. The consultation officially launched the regular political dialogue between foreign ministers of the two sides within the FOCAC framework. At the same time, there have been closed exchanges between the parliaments, political parties and local governments and steadily promoting and strengthening the mutual understanding and trust between the two sides. Further more, China has strengthened its consultations and cooperation with the African Union and sub-regional organizations in Africa to support African countries' efforts to achieve development goal through unity and regional integrity. The Chinese Government has also appointed a special representative on African affairs and has worked vigorously and effectively for resolving the Darfur issue and among others. In the field of peacekeeping, China is currently taking part in UN peacekeeping operations in Africa actively and providing aids to AU's peacekeeping operations.

Secondly, the practical cooperation between China and Africa has been enhanced. The full implementation of the eight policy measures has provided fresh impetus to China-Africa cooperation. The trade volume between China and Africa, China's investments in Africa and China's development assistance to Africa have grown steadily. The measures of canceling African debts owed to China and zero-tariff treatment for African products are almost complete. The foundation stone has been laid in Addis Ababa for the AU conference center to be built by China and the China-Africa Development Fund has been launched. The Projects of building hospitals, demonstration centers of agricultural technology, rural schools in Africa with Chinese grants are going on and have made great progress. The economic and trade cooperation zones set up by China in some African countries are under construction. The cooperation in the fields of human resources development, finance, science and technology, civil aviation cooperation between China and Africa has also gained great momentum.

Thirdly, China and Africa have strengthened consultations and cooperation in international affairs. China has always spoken up for safeguarding the interests and promoting the development of Africa on various international occasions. And with the vigorous support of the great majority of African countries and other countries who adhere firmly to the One China policy, China successfully restored its lawful rights in the World Organization for Animal Health and defeated the attempts of the Taiwan authorities to participate in the activities of the World Health Organization at the 60th World Health Assembly and the so-called "join the United Nations under the name Taiwan" at the current session of the UN General Assembly.

The past year has witnessed the good start of implementing the outcomes of the Beijing Summit, but we still have a long way to go. China stands ready to work and cooperate closely with the African countries to carry out the broad consensus reached by leaders of China and Africa in the Summit; further deepen traditional friendship and to enhance political trust; expand pragmatic cooperation and to implement the eight policy measures of the Summit; strengthen unity and cooperation in important international and regional issues; improve the FOCAC mechanism and explore new ways of cooperation to enhance China-Africa strategic partnership comprehensively for the welfare of both China and African people.