With the touchdown of the airplane taken by Zimbabwean President Robert Gabriel Mugabe at Beijing airport on Friday evening, 47 delegations of the 48 African countries, including 41 heads of state or government, have arrived for a landmark China-Africa summit due to open Saturday.

 

Also arriving on Friday were leaders from 16 African nations. Representatives from international organizations, including the African Union and the United Nations, have also arrived.

 

The last delegation headed by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerkiis expected to arrive early Saturday morning.

 

The two-day Beijing Summit of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the grandest diplomatic event since 1950s, will highlight "friendship, peace, cooperation, and development."

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2006)