China, Africa to enhance cooperation in 30 fields

According to China's first policy paper on Africa, which was published on Thursday, Sino-African cooperation will be promoted in 30 fields, a senior Chinese diplomat said in Beijing Thursday.

The fields involve high-level visits, exchanges between legislative bodies, political parties and governments, and cooperation in international affairs.

They also cover trade, investment, tourism, human resources, agriculture, medical and health, and peace and security, said Lu Guozeng, assistant foreign minister, at a press briefing.

According to the document, China will facilitate the import of African products, implement the zero-tariff treatment for some imported products from the least-developed African countries.

China is also willing to negotiate Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with African countries and African regional organizations when conditions are ripe, it said.

The Chinese government encourages enterprises to invest in Africa and welcomes African companies to come to China.

The government will vigorously encourage Chinese enterprises to participate in improving infrastructure in African countries, scale up their contracts, and gradually establish multilateral and bilateral mechanisms on contractual projects.

Lu said that China's economic aid for African countries is free with political conditions and is based on African countries' priorities.

China has carried out more than 800 assistance projects in Africa, ranging from railway, fabric factories, hydro-power stations, gym, office building, hospitals, schools, ports and roads.

Sino-African cooperation has brought about tangible benefits for the two sides. Trade volume surged from 12 million U.S. dollars in the early 1950s to nearly 40 billion dollars in 2005.

"China and Africa are expanding cooperation fields and initiating new approaches, which will bear more fruits," Lu said.

Source: Xinhua