China-Africa forum true example of South-South cooperation: Sudanese president
ADDIS ABABA, Dec 15, 2003 (Xinhua) — The China-Africa Cooperation Forum is a true example of South-South cooperation, Sudanese President Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir said here Monday.
“China and Africa are both very rich, with abundant resources and potentialities and therefore there is no doubt that they will realize their shared objectives of development, peace and stability through cooperation,” he said at the opening session of the Second Ministerial Conference of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia.
“I have the pleasure to applaud the brave and historical decision made by the friendly People’s Republic of China to write off the African debts and equally commend the present close cooperation between China and the 77-Group in the regional and international arena,” the Sudanese president said.
Al-Bashir, who is also the current chairperson of the Common Market for East and South Africa (COMESA), said the participation of regional economic communities like COMESA in the forum’s meeting is timely and crucial, as these communities are expected to spearhead the social-economic development process in the continent.
“Each and every one of these regional economic communities has a strategic mission and together they act as building blocks for the African economic integration and to define the road for the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD),” he said.
Al-Bashir noted that in parallel with the ministerial conference, a Sino-African business forum is being held with the participation of Chinese business firms and companies and their African counterparts.
“With determination and strong, they are committed to forge a robust commercial partnership. This would be a positive step that demands our support and encouragement as the private sector and civil society organizations are expected to play a pivotal and crucial role in promotion of trade and economic cooperation between African states and China,” he said.