More than 11,000 professionals from Africa have received
training in China since 2004, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC)
announced on Thursday.
China received 2,963 African trainees in 2004, and last year the
number surged to 4,887 studying trade, agriculture, forestry,
fishery, public health care, telecommunications, education and
environmental protection.
More than 3,900 African professionals are studying in China this
year.
The statistics were released ahead of the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, the highest-level and largest
meeting of Chinese and African leaders since the 1950s, from
November 3 to 5.
The FOCAC is a mechanism for collective dialogue and cooperation
to cope with new challenges and facilitate common development.
About 30 African heads of state or government and their Chinese
counterparts will attend, aiming to outline future cooperation
after 50 years of friendship.
"China and African countries are developing and lots of
experiences China have obtained during its social and economic
construction can be shared with the African nations," said Li
Yuanyuan, an Africa expert with the prestigious Peking
University.
"African technicians, business managers and specialists could
improve their skills and increase their understanding of China
through the training program," he said.
China's efforts to boost bilateral cooperation in human
resources with African countries came after Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao promised to help African countries train 10,000
professionals at the end of 2003 when he attended the FOCAC's 2nd
ministerial conference in Addis Ababa.
"The training program also helps create a platform for the
Chinese enterprises to develop their business in Africa", Li
said.
China-Africa economic ties have developed rapidly in recent
years. MOC statistics show that two-way trade volume has rocketed
from US$4 billion in 1995 to almost US$40 billion in 2005.
Chinese direct investment in Africa has reached US$1.18 billion,
with more than 800 Chinese enterprises having operations on the
continent.
With China's gradual increase of imports from Africa, bilateral
economic ties have progressed to a new level, said Li, predicting
that the ties will continue to expand.
According to a MOC official who preferred to remain anonymous,
China will continue to carry out its training program for African
professionals under the FOCAC mechanism.
"We will further implement the new approaches President Hu
Jintao announced on the UN summit on the 60th anniversary of the
founding of the United Nations last year", the official said,
vowing to expand fields and create new forms to step up
cooperation.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of
diplomatic relationships between the People's Republic of China and
several of the African countries.
China released its first African policy paper earlier this year,
putting forward its proposals for all-round cooperation with Africa
in various fields in the coming years.
(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2006)