The on-going China-Africa Cooperation Forum -- Ministerial Conference Beijing 2000 held a general conference and a symposium on Tuesday afternoon.

Speaking at the conference were: Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and French Countries of Gabon Jean Ping, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uganda Eriya Kategaya, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mozambique Leonardo Santos Simao, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and French Affairs of the Republic of Congo Rodolphe Adad, Vice President of Seychelles James Michel, Minister of External Relations and Cooperation of Burundi Ntahomvukiye Severin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Namibia Theo-Ben Gurirab, Minister of Economy, Finance and Tourism of Morocco Fathallah Oualalou, Minister of International Cooperation, Macropolicy and Economic Coordination of Eritrea Berhane Abrehe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Togo Kokou Joseph Koffigoh, Minister of the Presidency in Charge of Foreign Affairs of Guinea Mahawa Bangoura,Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Malians of Mali Modibo Sidibe, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and African Integration of Niger Sabo Nassirou, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Djibouti, also in charge of relations with Parliament Ali Abdi Farah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Mauritania Ahmed Ould Ahmed, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sudan Mustafa Othman Ismail.

Chinese Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng and Namibian Foreign Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab presided over the first and second phase of the conference respectively.

The symposium focused on Sino-African cooperation in education, science and technology and public health. Relevant Chinese officials exchanged views with their African counterparts in these areas.

(Xinhua 10/11/2000)