Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening. Thank you all for joining us in celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

A decade ago, with the aim to strengthen the traditional friendship and enhance pragmatic cooperation, China and African countries together initiated the founding of the Forum on China-Africa cooperation (FOCAC).

Since its establishment, FOCAC has become an important platform of collective dialogue between China and African countries, and has played a vital role in leading the development of China-Africa relations.

The traditional friendly relations between China and Africa have been consolidated and lifted to a new level. Since the 2006 FOCAC Beijing Summit, the two sides have worked together to build a new type of strategic partnership.

The economic cooperation and trade between China and Africa has grown noticeably. In less than eight years, China-Africa trade volume has grown from US$ 10 billion to US$ 100 billion. China has become the largest trading partner of Africa. Up to this August, 2000 Chinese enterprises have invested in Africa, with a total investment stock of US$ 32.3 billion. Africa has become the fourth largest foreign destination of the investment of China.

The assistance volume of China to Africa has increased by 10 times. At the First Ministerial Conference of FOCAC, China written off 10 billion Yuan debt of heavily indebted countries in Africa. From 2006 to 2009, China has provided more than US$ 3 billion concessional loans to Africa, and will provide US$ 10 billion concessional loans in the next three years. The assistance from China has helped Africa improved its self-development and sustainable growth capacity.

The people-to-people exchanges between China and Africa have expanded remarkably. China has trained more than 30,000 people of different professions for African countries. Interactions among the youth, women and sister provinces and cities have been more frequent. All these developments have led to deeper mutual understanding and stronger traditional friendship between China and Africa.

The demonstration effect of FOCAC has pushed the international community to pay more attention to Africa and increase input in the continent. Following the establishment of FOCAC, some countries have built or lifted up their cooperation mechanisms with Africa.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The relations between China and Africa have a long history. As far as the beginning of the 15th century, a fleet led by Chinese navigator Zheng He, had reached East Africa.

Since the 1950s, China has provided strong support to African countries in their struggle for national independence. In the early 1970s, China built an 1800 kilometer Tanzania- Zambia railway for Africa. Meanwhile, China also received strong support from African countries in restoring its legitimate seat in the United Nations.

China-Africa relations are based on the principles of equality and mutual respect. China always considers itself as a development partner of Africa, never attaches any political strings on its assistance to Africa. The cooperation between China and Africa is mutual support between developing countries, and is a good example of South-South cooperation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the Fourth Ministerial Conference of FOCAC which was held in Egypt last year, Premier Wen Jiabao announced Chinese Government's new eight measures to strengthen the pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa.

We will build 100 clean energy projects for Africa covering solar power, bio-gas and small hydro-power.

We will carry out 100 joint demonstration projects on scientific and technological research with Africa.

We will provide US$ 10 billion in concessional loans to African countries, and set up a US$ 1 billion special loan for small and medium-sized African businesses.

We will phase in zero-tariff treatment to 95 % items of the products from the least developed African countries having diplomatic relations with China.

We will increase the number of agricultural technology demonstration centers built by China in Africa to 20, send 50 agricultural technology teams to Africa and train 2,000 agricultural technician for Africa.

We will provide medical equipments and anti-malaria materials worth 500 million RMB yuan to the 30 hospitals, and 30 malaria prevention and treatment centers built by China, and train 3,000 doctors and nurses for Africa.

We will build 50 China-Africa friendship schools and train 1,500 school principals and teachers for African countries. By 2012, China will increase the number of Chinese government scholarships to Africa to 5,500. And China will train a total of 20,000 professionals of various fields for Africa over the next three years.

As a member state of FOCAC, Malawi will definitely benefit from these measures. We will set up an agricultural technology demonstration center in Malawi, build two solar energy pilot projects, one biogas pilot project and a China-Malawi Friendship School in Malawi. And we will do more in the areas of education and human resources development.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

FOCAC will enter into a new decade. At this new starting point, China and African countries will continue to strengthen the cooperation under the framework of FOCAC, improve the mechanisms of FOCAC, further promote the new type of strategic partnership between China and Africa, and bring more benefits to our people.

I am confident that with our joint efforts, China and Africa will be good friends, good partners and good brothers forever.

Before I conclude, I wish to take this opportunity to inform you that the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation has issued the China-Africa Trade and Economic Relationship Annual Report 2010.

The report consists of three parts: a history of China-Africa trade and economic relations, a description of China-Africa trade and economic relations in 2009, and an outlook of 2010. We have some copies here. Please feel free to take it.

Finally, I propose to raise our glasses,

For the 10th birthday of FOCAC,

For the friendship between China and Africa,

Cheers.