Kufuor arrives in Beijing

...for China-Africa summit
President John Kufuor arrived in Beijing on Thursday for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on the China-Africa Cooperation.

Kufuor who was accompanied by Nana Akufo-Addo, the Foreign Minister, Mr Joseph Adda, Minister of Energy, and other senior Government Officials were met on arrival at the Beijing International Airport, by high ranking Chinese Officials.

A total of 48 African countries with diplomatic relations with China are to attend the two-day summit, which is scheduled to open on Nov. 4.

"It (the conference) will be very significant because... we will talk openly and frankly to each other, with a view to explore better chances of getting benefits both on the African side as well as for the Chinese side," Kufuor said in an interview with Xinhua before he left for the summit.

The President would seek to convince China for a development support of 1.2 billion dollars to fund the Bui Dam project, rural electrification and the improvement of Ghana's telecommunication system.

He is scheduled to hold separate bilateral talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao, and Premier Wen Jiabao, as well as meet with Sino Hydro Corporation on the Bui Dam Project.

His other engagements would include meetings with Huawei Technologies Company Limited over Ghana's Internet backbone and E-Government Project and the ZTE Corporation on the GOTA Security System Project.

Ghana and China restored diplomatic relations in February 1972. Kufuor visited China in 2002, while Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Ghana in 2006.

Ghana is a destination country for Chinese citizens and tourist groups. China now ranks as the second largest exporter to Ghana, after Nigeria, with bilateral trade reaching 769 million U.S. dollars in 2005.

Beijing summit to be a milestone in China-African relations, says Hu

The Beijing summit of Chinese and African leaders will mark the start of a more prosperous relationship between China and Africa, said Chinese President Hu Jintao Wednesday in Beijing.

"The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), through its six-year development, has become an important arena for dialogue and cooperation," he told African leaders who are here attending the summit.

The two-day summit, with the theme of friendship, peace, cooperation and development, will open on Nov. 4. The leaders of 48 African countries will attend.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-African diplomatic relations. The summit will recall achievements, draw up a blueprint for relations, and promote a new strategic partnership.

"This summit demonstrates the common aspirations of the Chinese and African peoples, and conforms with the world trend of peace, development and cooperation," Hu said.

Hu was meeting on Wednesday with Gabonese President El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba, Comoros President Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi, and Alpha Oumar Konare, Chairman of the Commission of the African Union.

During the meeting with Bongo, Hu said China and Gabon had boosted cooperation on trade, resources exploration, infrastructure construction and telecommunications.
"We will work with Gabon to deepen economic and trade cooperation, and consultation in the international affairs," he said.
Bongo agreed with Hu, saying Gabon supported China's reunification.
Meeting with Sambi, Hu said Sino-Comoros relations were "a good example of equal treatment between big and small countries and cooperation".
He said China would continue mutually beneficial cooperation with Comoros and encourage entrepreneurs to invest there.
Sambi said he hoped China would continue to support the Comoros. He reaffirmed his government would adhere to one-China policy.
Meeting with Konare, Hu said China and Africa had fostered friendship with equal treatment and mutual trust.
He expressed appreciation for the efforts of the African Union on safeguarding regional stability, promoting unity and pushing economic integration. "China views the relations with the AU as an important component of Sino-African relations," he added.
Konare said the AU valued relations with China, and would contribute to their development.