Chinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday held separate meetings
with presidents of three African countries on the sidelines of the
Beijing Summit, the largest diplomatic event ever held between
China and Africa.
The meetings between Hu and Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang
Nguema Mbasogo, Mali President Amadou Toumany Toure and Ethiopia
President Girma Wolde Giorgis were held after a grand opening
ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in the morning, where Hu
and 41 heads of state or government and senior officials of 48
African countries gathered.
With smiles and handshakes, Hu welcomed and thanked the leaders
for their participation in the summit.
He told the leaders that he believed that the two-day summit of
the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will further
strengthen the China-Africa friendly cooperative ties.
While addressing the opening ceremony, Hu announced eight new
actions to assist Africa, including doubling 2006 assistance to
Africa by 2009, US$3 billion of preferential loans in next three
years and the exemption of more debt owed by poor African
countries.
The three African leaders said Hu's speech in the morning
demonstrated Chinese government's and its people's determination to
further China-Africa cooperation.
The African leaders also reiterated their countries' firm stance
on the one-China policy, saying there is only one China in the
world and they wish China realize national reunification at an
early date.
The summit is expected to pass a Beijing declaration and an
action plan for 2007-2009.
(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2006)