Q：  The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation—Ministerial Conference Beijing 2000 has concluded today.  The Conference adopted such programmatic documents like the Beijing Declaration.  How do you assess the achievements of the Conference? What significance, in your view, this Conference will have on promoting the furtherance of China-Africa relations in the new century?


A：  Thanks to the joint efforts of and close cooperation between China and Africa, the three-day Forum on China-Africa Cooperation—Ministerial Conference Beijing 2000 has successfully concluded.  Delegates to the Conference held consultations on an equal footing and engaged in extensive exchanges of views on China-Africa cooperation in political, economic and other fields under new circumstances.  The Beijing Declaration and the China-Africa Programme for Social and Economic Development and Cooperation were adopted by the Conference.  It can be said that the Forum has achieved the expected goal of increasing understanding, broadening consensus, enhancing friendship and promoting cooperation.


The success of this Conference fully shows that, first of all, China and Africa have a lot in common on a series of major international and political issues and have full confidence and hope in further strengthening exchanges and cooperation under new circumstances.  Second, there is a broad prospect of development for friendly cooperation between China and Africa.  The two documents adopted at the Conference fully reviews and lays out plan for bilateral cooperation in political, economic, social development and other fields and are therefore programmatic documents for consolidating friendship and increasing cooperation between China and Africa in the new century.  Third, enhanced South-South cooperation accords with the trend of the times and is an important means for developing countries to effectively respond to changes in international situations and the challenges posed by globalization.  If China, as the largest developing nation, and Africa, as the largest developing continent, can strengthen consultation and cooperation and join hands in the pursuit of common development, it will contribute to world peace and development and the progress and prosperity of mankind.


We are convinced that this Forum will undoubtedly have a far-reaching impact on further consolidating and deepening of China-Africa relations.