The Fourth Session Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs(hereinafter referred to as the Conference) was held in Beijing on July 18, 2012. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. Gao Hucheng, China International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce, also addressed at the Conference.

Mr. Gao stated that with the deepening of China’s reform and opening up and the development of national economy in African countries, Sino-Africa’s common interest and requirement and opportunities for trade and economic cooperation further expanded. China became, within a comparatively short period of time, Africa's largest trading partner, an important source of investment and one of the major providers of assistance. Meanwhile, Africa became a cornerstone for the development of China’s trade and economic relations and the first choice of Chinese enterprises in their investment overseas. Friendly and pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa has stepped on a new landing of historical significance.

Mr. Gao said that Chinese and African entrepreneurs are the major force of Sino-Africa trade and economic cooperation, and also the essential element for smooth development of the future cooperation. Marketalization and globalization are distinctive features of the cooperation of entrepreneurs between China and Africa, making more flexible in cooperative approaches, more extensive in cooperative fields and more secure in profits, further consolidating non-governmental basis for trade cooperation of both sides, and injecting more sustainable and reliable force for bilateral cooperation. Chinese government believes that the future of Sino-Africa trade and economic cooperation will be everbright under support of the two governments and great efforts from non-governmental and business communities.

Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs is co-hosted by Ministry of Commerce of P. R. China and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), and it is an important component part of Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. This session of the Conference was attended by nearly a thousand representatives from China and over 40 other countries of Africa.