To go with the change of the international situation, face the challenge of economic globalization, and to push forward common development through dialogue and cooperation,Chinaand friendly countries inAfricainitiated and established the mechanism of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2000. The forum was initaited in the spirit of "consultation on an equal footing, enhancing mutual understanding, expanding consensus, strenghtening friendship and promoting cooperation." According to the procedure of the mechanism, a ministerial-level meeting will be held every three years. The meeting is held inChinaand inAfricain rotation. After the first ministerial meeting inBeijingin October 2000, the second ministerial meeting is scheduled to be held from 15 to16 December 2003 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The main task of the second meeting: review the implemetation of the two documents passed by the first session, namely "Beijing Declaration of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation" and "Program for China-Africa Cooperation in Economic and Social Development"; explore new ideas and measures to deepen cooperation in key fields such as human resources development, agriculture, infrastructure construction, investment and trade, so as to push forward the pragmatic and mutually beneficial cooperation on an equal footing under the new circumstances.

Ministers of foreign affairs and international economic cooperation fromChinaand 46 member countries fromAfricawill lead governmental delegations to attend the forum. Leaders of state and government fromChina,Ethiopiaand some other African countries will be present at some events of the forum.China's Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will make a report to the forum on the implementation of the follow-up actions of the first meeting.China's Deputy Minister of Commerce Wei Jianguoand representatives of African countries will address the forum on future Sino-African cooperation.

The Chinese and the African side have agreed to issue the "Forum on China-Africa Cooperation--Addis Ababa Action Plan (2004-2006)", which reflects the consensus of the two sides on political issues and other important international issues of common concern. The plan will also lay down the concrete ideas about the two sides' cooperation in various fields in the next three years.

There will also be two major activities during the meeting:

--The China-Africa Business Conference will be held from 14 to 16 December. Representatives from nearly 100 Chinese enterprises will participate in the conference for negotiation and talks on joint venture and other cooperation with African enterpreneurs.

--An Exhibition on Achievement of China-Africa Friendly Cooperation will be held from 15 to 16 December. Pictures on 50 years' cooperation betweenChinaandAfricaand products produced by joint ventures will be displayed.

It will be the first time that the ministerial meeting is held inAfrica. It marks the improvement of the forum mechanism, and will serve as an important platform and dialogue mechanism for strenghtening China-Africa cooperation and solidarity,and safeguarding common interest. Through the joint efforts of all the member countries, the meeting ofAddis Ababawill surely bring about a wider prospect for enhancing China-Africa friendship and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation.