China — China and Africa should explore new partnerships to benefit both parties for the purpose of sustainable development, the ECOWAS Vice-President Toga Gayewea McIntosh has urged. Speaking at the just-ended 4th Conference of Chinese and Africa Business Entrepreneurs, in China, he noted that cooperative relationship between China and Africa "has developed rapidly in all fields since the establishment of the Forum on China- Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000.
"Now China is Africa's largest trade partner," the Vice-President said, adding that in 2011, China's non-financial direct investment in Africa increased 58.9 percent year-on-year to 1.7 billion U.S. dollars. By the end of 2011, he said, Chinese investment stock in Africa reached 14.7 billion U.S. dollars, up 60 percent compared with 2009. In a key note address, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao noted that Africa's exports to China had doubled within three years with increasing varieties, and notable progress in cooperation on financing.
A Declaration by the Conference held at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People on 18th July, 2012, called on Chinese enterprises to help Africa realize its industrial optimization through the introduction of advanced technology, improved commodity value and promotion of export diversification.
It also urged Chinese enterprises to support their African counterparts in improving trade structure, while all parties should promote trade and investment facilitation, as well as build open trade and investment environment. The Declaration issued in conjunction with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, China Development Bank, China Nonferrous Metals Group, China Heavy Truck Group and China Civil Engineering Group, called on Chinese enterprises to increase technology transfer and investment.
They should also actively build training centers in Africa, promote enterprise of territorial management and management, improve the level of human resources in Africa as well as local employees' business skills and drive the growth in Africa through Chinese manufacturing. Chinese enterprises should also promote local employment and tax revenue, enhance the awareness of environmental protection, strengthen the ability of independent development of Africa economy, and promote the sustainable development of Africa's economy and society.
The Declaration urged Chinese enterprises to pay attention to the construction of people's livelihood in Africa, actively participate in infrastructure construction, develop multi-channel cooperation in agriculture, medical and health cooperation, improve African people's livelihood, improve Africa's national information communication level, and eliminate digital divide. The Declaration also appealed to Chinese enterprises to continue to integrate into the local society, promote cultural exchanges and communication, implement friendly enterprise community environment, actively fulfill the social responsibility of the enterprise, and ensure that more people enjoy the benefits of economic development in Africa.
The Conference was hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of China and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, co-assisted by China Development Bank and the Union of African Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture, and Professions. Other attendees of the Conference included President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou, Prime Minister of Cape Verde Jose Maria Pereira Neves and Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga, as well as some 1,000 representatives from China and Africa business circles.
