The African countries will make efforts to further develop their friendly relations with China, since the two sides have "great potential for the economic cooperation" in the new millennium, Angolan Trade Minister Victorino Domingos Hossi has said.

Hossi made the statement in an interview with Xinhua on Friday at Luanda International Airport before leaving here for China to attend a forum on Sino-African cooperation to be held in Beijing on October 10.

The minister described the fast-developing Chinese economy as a model for many African countries, saying that China and the African countries have great potential for cooperation in science and technology, agriculture, trade, and finance.

Hossi, also head of the Angolan delegation to the forum, reminded that China has been supporting during the past half century for the liberation and the independence of the African countries including Angola, adding that at this moment, he believes that China will surely help make its economic cooperation with the African countries dynamic and positive.

On the Sino-Angolan relations, Hossi said that the two countries had promised to work hard for promoting the bilateral economic cooperation, which should be in favor of both sides.

Hossi highlighted the function of the Sino-Angolan Mixed Commission, which is responsible for promoting bilateral cooperation in various fields, urging the two sides to reinforce the cooperation in the commission.

On the issue of China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), the minister said that as an effective member of WTO, Angola will fully support for China's active participation in the international trade organization, which will benefit China and most member countries of WTO.

The Angolan delegation headed by Hossi consists of Vice Foreign Minister Toco Serao and some other Angolan government officials and entrepreneurs.

(Peoples' Daily 10/07/2000)