Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said Friday in Addis Ababa that China attaches great importance to Africa and it will continue to enhance its friendly relations and cooperation with the continent.

In order to further the China-Africa relations, China would continue to support the establishment of the African Union (AU) and the implementation of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) on the continent, said Tang in his speech delivered at Ethiopian International Institute for Peace and Development.

"Establishing the AU and independently formulating and implementing the NEPAD represent the new attempts made by African countries to collectively take on their challenges," he said.

"This remarkable act gives full expression to the strong resolve of the African people in going along with the world's trends to seek peace and development," the minister added.

The Chinese government will build on its good cooperation with the Organization of African Unity, deepen cooperation with the AU in future, and support the AU to play bigger role in realizing peace and stability and promoting integration on the African continent, Tang noted.

He called on the international community to take concrete measures to jointly support the smooth implementation of the NEPAD.

Talking about the Sino-Africa Cooperation Forum to be held this year in Addis Ababa, Tang said the Chinese government will maintain close contact and consultation with Ethiopia and other African nations, and jointly help secure a complete success for the next meetings of the forum.

As the host country, Ethiopia has reportedly established a special preparatory committee and actively begun preparations for the forum.

Concerning the issue of expanding China-Africa economic cooperation and trade, the foreign minister said the Chinese side will explore new approaches to cooperate with African countries, focusing on the areas of agriculture, infrastructure building and human resources development.

The Chinese government has drawn out the "Go Global" strategy in a timely manner to support Chinese enterprises to go abroad for mutually beneficial cooperation, said Tang, adding that the Chinese government will continue to provide assistance within its capacity to African countries.

He also said that China would continue to support African countries to participate in international affairs on an equal footing, saying China will continue to enhance its consultation and cooperation with African countries in international affairs and coordinate the positions on such issues as peace, development, anti-terrorism, global security and the establishment of a new international order.

"We support a bigger role played by African nations in international affairs including increasing their say and representation in the U.N. Security Council," said Tang.

He said China supports the legitimate propositions and reasonable demands of African countries in the new round of multilateral trade talks, urging the international community, particularly the developed countries, to take more steps to accommodate the interests of African countries, increase input in Africa's development and honor their commitments to the settlement of the debt problem.

Before giving his speech, the Chinese foreign minister held talks with his counterpart Seyoum Mesfin on the issues of bilateral relations and further cooperation between the two countries in the future.

(People's Daily January 13, 2002)