Gao Hucheng, China International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce

(July 18, 2012)

Distinguished Premier of China Wen Jiabao,
Distinguished President of Equatorial Guinea Obiang,
Distinguished President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou,
Distinguished Premier of Cape Verde Neves,
Distinguished Premier of Kenya Odinga,

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends,

Good morning!

Please allow me to extend, on behalf of the sponsor, warm welcome and sincere gratitude to Chinese and African leaders and entrepreneurs present at the Conference!

China and Africa are close friends, dear brothers and good partners. China and Africa has a long history of friendly cooperation relations. Over the years, Chinese and African people have treated each other equally, cooperated earnestly, and stood together through thick and thin. China and Africa have together created many stories of friendship that are spread orally, and made a good example of South-South Cooperation for international relations. In this new era and 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.

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.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends,

The world is going through deep changes. China is changing, and Africa is also changing. China and Africa are stepping on to the international arena as the new forces for the world economic development, and Chinese and African peoples are researching development paths suitable for their own national conditions. Meanwhile, no matter what happens, the profound friendly relations between China and Africa will not change; the resolve of China and Africa to reinforce and develop the friendly relations will not change; and the trend that China-Africa cooperation keeps deepening will not change. Let’s continue to promote the mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation between China and Africa with long-term of view, firm faith and positive measures, and together to embrace a brighter future!

May this Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs a complete success!
Thank you!