President Zhang Yi attended the 3rd African Research Forum & Sino-Africa Investment Cooperation

On November 10, 2013, China-Africa Countries Trade Promotion Association’s President Zhang Yi and its PR department staff Huang Qi attended the 3rd African Research Forum & Sino-Africa Investment Cooperation which held in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. The forum was sponsored by China Research Society of African Affairs, hosted by Africa Institute of Nanjing University, co-organized by Nanrui Co., Ltd. The forum aimed to discuss the potential of Sino-African investment cooperation and development prospect under the new situation. President of China Research Society of African Affairs, General Secretary of China International Center for Economic Exchanges and the former Vice-minister of Commerce, Mr. Wei Jianguo attended the forum and delivered a speech. In consideration of the efforts made by African Embassies, Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti to China, Mr. Abdullah Abdillahi Miguil and counselor, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Lesotho to China, Ms. Lebohang Ntsinyi and counselor and the counselor of the Tunisian Republic to China, Mr. Mohammed Ben Salah were also presented at the forum on invitation. They delivered a short speech and analyzed and stated the opportunities and challenges of Sino-African investment at the opening ceremony.
 

At the opening ceremony, President of China Research Society of African Affairs, General Secretary of China International Center for Economic Exchanges and the former Vice-minister of Commerce, Mr. Wei Jianguo reviewed the profound friendship of China and African countries. He thought that Sino-African relationship is in the best development period of the history and the characteristics are as below: Sino-African economic & trade relations are developing at a high speed. Bilateral economic cooperation was mainly in infrastructure field before, but now it has been turned into machine manufacturing, information industry and agricultural production fields. Bilateral economic & trade cooperation paid more attention to the local people’s livelihood, social responsibilities of enterprises and local employments and fiscal revenues, especially focus on raising local people’s living standard. Bilateral economic & trade cooperation is developing towards the win-win direction which complement each other’s advantages and enhance practical cooperation. He further analyzed the main reason for Sino-African relations’ fast development, problems in bilateral cooperation at present and issues should be solved in the future.
 

Diplomats of some African countries, senior diplomats, China’s Ministry of Commerce, Nanjing Commerce Bureau, academic experts and scholars and business representatives, totally about one hundred people attended the forum.