Participants in the China-Africa Cooperation Forum which opened Tuesday called for strengthening cooperation between China and Africa and voiced their hope to establish an equitable and just new international political and economic order.

In the speech "China and Africa -- Usher in the New Century Together,'' President Jiang Zemin put forward four suggestions to call on the international community to establish a new international political and economic order.

* Strengthen solidarity and promote South-South co-operation.

* Enhance dialogue and improve North-South relations.

* Take part in international affairs on the basis of equality and in an enterprising spirit.

* Look forward into the future and establish a new long-term stable partnership of equality and mutual benefit.

After analyzing the current world situation, Jiang said, "developing countries must enhance their capacity for self-development and increase their national aggregates.''

"It is a fundamental guarantee for accelerating their development,'' Jiang stressed.

Jiang pointed out that in the new international order, all ethnic groups and civilizations should be ensured their right to common development.

Echoing Jiang's remarks, many heads of African countries expressed their hope to translate the forum into a practical programme that will achieve immediate fruits.

Zambian President Frederic J.T. Chiluba urged deepening cooperation in agricultural, technical and economical projects with China, noting that the forum has the additional task of forging a substantial new partnership between China and Africa at the inter-governmental, enterprise and non-governmental organization levels.

Togolese President and Organization of African Unity Chairman Gnassingbe Eyadema said that China has always given support to African countries in international affairs, noting that Africa used to, and will continue to, trust China to exert influence in the UN Securities Council and promote peace and development on the African continent.

Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa said, "We look forward to China's joining the World Trade Organization, an organization which some of African countries are not its greatest beneficiaries.''

He said that Africa hopes China's entry will improve the organization's balance in favour of the countries in the south, particularly those of Africa.

Mkapa also hailed the decision by China to reduce or exempt debts owed by some of the least developed African countries in the next two years.

Algerian President Bouteflika said that China is a responsible country on the international stage and that the Algerian people will never forget the support and encouragement they received from China during their struggle for national liberation.

More than 800 Chinese officials, entrepreneurs and scholars, African ministers of foreign and economic affairs as well as leaders of international and regional organizations attended the opening ceremony.

The forum is the first ever venue for China-Africa multilateral, collective dialogue to jointly plan for the future within the framework of South-South co-operation.

(China Daily 10/11/2000)