The Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) ushered in a new phase of all-round China-Africa friendly cooperation, and added a splendid chapter in the annals of China-Africa relations. In the past three years since the convocation of the Beijing Summit, the development of China-Africa relations yields substantial results.

Political Cooperation

President Hu Jintao and other senior Chinese leaders have visited 30 African countries, while 40 African heads of state, prime ministers and parliament speakers have visited China. The frequent high-level exchanges between China and Africa further deepened the mutual understanding and trust between the two sides and vigorously promoted the development of China-African relations.

The foreign ministries of China and African countries have maintained regular consultations and dialogues, which played an important role in deepening China-Africa political relations of equality and mutual trust. In the three years, the Chinese Foreign Minister has visited a total of 16 African countries, and nearly 20 Foreign Ministers of African countries have visited China.

Both China and Africa have actively committed themselves to innovating the mechanisms of political consultations and cooperation. A mechanism of regular political dialogue between the Foreign Ministers of China and African countries was formally initiated, and a strategic dialogue mechanism was set up between China and African countries concerned and the African Union. The Chinese Government appointed a Special Representative for African Affairs to enhance communication and coordination with the African side and facilitate the settlement of hotspot issues in Africa.

China and African countries have constantly strengthened exchanges and cooperation between political parties, local governments and NGOs, which played an important role in facilitating the exchange of experience in managing state affairs and promoting the all-round and in-depth development of China-Africa relations.

China has actively supported the efforts of African countries to strengthen themselves through unity, enhanced through multiple means exchanges and cooperation with the African Union and sub-regional organizations in Africa and contributed to facilitating the implementation of NEPAD (the New Partnership for Africa’s Development) and pushing forward the process of African integration.

Economic and Trade Cooperation

The policy measures of increasing aid to Africa, debt cancellation, tax exemption, provision of preferential loans and preferential export buyer’s credit, setting up the China-Africa Development Fund and establishment of economic and trade cooperation zones, as announced by the Chinese Government at the summit, have been implemented in an all-round manner. The China-Africa Development Fund was officially launched in June 2007. US$ one billion was put in place for the first stage. African countries, making use of the free aid and preferential loans provided by the Chinese Government, have put up a series of projects related to their national economies and people's livelihood. The Chinese Government canceled 168 debts arising from government interest-free loans that matured at the end of 2005 owed by 33 heavily indebted poor and least developed African countries having diplomatic relations with China. China increased the scope of zero-tax treatment for goods imported from the least-developed African countries having diplomatic relations with China from 190 to nearly 500 tax items.

These have vigorously promoted the in-depth development of China-Africa economic and trade relations. In 2008, the volume of China-Africa trade exceeded US$100 billion for the first time, reaching US$106.8 billion. Among that, US$50.8 billion was China’s export to Africa and US$56 billion import from Africa.

Agriculture Cooperation

China and African countries have continued their active cooperation in agriculture through bilateral and multilateral channels. The ten agricultural technology demonstration centers that China has undertaken to build will all be under construction before the end of 2009, and the 100 senior agricultural experts that China pledged to send have successively left for Africa.

Medical Care and Public Health Cooperation

Both sides of China and Africa are satisfied with the progress in the cooperation in public health. Chinese Government has adopted effective measures to provide timely assistance to African countries in the prevention and treatment of malaria, HIV/AIDS, avian influenza and other communicable diseases. Among the 30 hospitals planed to build by Chinese Government in African countries, 16 hospitals have been built; 12 hospitals are in preparation; 2 batches of medical equipment has arrived the destination countries. Chinese Government has provide RMB300 million of grant for providing anti-malaria drugs to African countries and 30 demonstration centers for prevention and treatment of malaria has been built. 42 medical teams has been sent by Chinese Government to Africa to provide medical service.

Education and Human Resources Development Cooperation

China-Africa cooperation in education and human resources development has further deepened. By the end of 2009, all the 100 rural schools China pledged to build will be completed and put into operation. China will have trained more than 15,000 various personnel for African countries. In the 2009-2010 academic year, the number of student scholarships China provides to African countries will reach 4,000, doubling the number of 2,000 in the 2006-2007 academic year.

Cultural Exchanges

Cultural exchanges and mutual learning constitute a major aspect of the new China-Africa strategic partnership. In the three years since the Beijing Summit, there have been fruitful cultural exchanges between China and Africa, which not only built bridges linking the hearts of the peoples of China and Africa, but also contributed to the harmony and common prosperity of different civilizations of the world.

Women and Youth Contacts

The women of China and Africa have maintained good momentum in their contacts and there have been frequent exchanges and mutual visits between women organizations of both sides, which deepened mutual understanding and mutual learning between the two sides in women development, and played a unique and important role in promoting development of China-Africa ties.

Youth exchanges have become a highlight in China-Africa friendly contacts. By the end of 2009, three hundred Chinese volunteers will be in Africa to provide volunteer services, while 500 African young people, at the invitation of President Hu Jintao, have visited China. These activities boosted the friendship between the young people of both sides and laid a sound foundation for passing on China-Africa friendship to future generations.