The 2nd Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs concluded in Beijing on Sunday morning with 14 agreements signed between 11 Chinese enterprises and African governments and firms, worth US$1.9 billion in total.

 

The agreements cover operation in infrastructure facilities, communications, technology and equipment, energy and resources development, finance and insurance.

 

African countries involved are Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Uganda, Seychelles, Lesotho and Cape Verde.

 

Referring to these contracts "a substantial result" of the conference attended by 1,500 Chinese and African businessmen, Chairman Wan Jifei of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, announced the establishment of the China-Africa Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

 

Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan attended the closing ceremony and met with officials of nine African countries including Zambia, Lesotho, Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya.

 

The conference is on the sidelines of the two-day Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) highlighting "friendship, peace, cooperation and development".

 

FOCAC is a mechanism for collective dialogue and cooperation jointly established by China and Africa to cope with new challenges and facilitate common development.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2006)