Back to Headlines Print Version Buzz Up Stumble it Tweet it Facebook LinkedIn

China PM To Attend Opening Of China-Africa Forum In Egypt

BEIJING -(Dow Jones)- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will attend the opening of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation that starts Nov. 8 in Eygpt, China Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said Tuesday.

The two-day forum, which will be held in Sharm el Sheikh, will be led by China Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Commerce Minister Chen Deming, Ma said.

He said that China and Africa plan to issue a declaration and a 2010-2012 action plan during the forum to chart the course of bilateral cooperation in the coming three years.

He declined to say if China would extend fresh aid to African nations, but said China's aid and assistance to Africa is a long-term and continuous one. Ma said the two sides hope to reach a new consensus as they exchange views on trade and economic cooperation at the forum.

The forum was first held in China in 2000, with the venue for subsequent meetings alternating between China and Africa. The last forum was held was in Beijing in 2006.

Before next month's forum, Wen will be on an official visit in Eygpt Nov. 6-7 to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif to exchange views on deepening bilateral ties and cooperation, Ma said.

-By J.R. Wu, Dow Jones Newswires; 8610 6588-5848; jr.wu@dowjones.com

  (END) Dow Jones Newswires
  10-27-090501ET
  Copyright (c) 2009 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.