Previous Conferences

The First Ministerial Conference of FOCAC was held in Beijing from 10 to 12 October 2000. More than 80 ministers from China and 44 African countries, representatives of 17 regional and international organizations and business leaders of China and Africa attended the Conference. The Conference focused on two major topics: "how to work towards the establishment of a new international political and economic order in the 21st century", and "how to further strengthen Sino-African economic cooperation and trade under the new circumstances". Four workshops were held during the conference, covering investment and trade between China and Africa, reform experience of China and African countries, poverty eradication and sustainable development of agriculture, and cooperation in education, science, technology and health between China and Africa.

The Conference adopted the Beijing Declaration of FOCAC and the Program for China-Africa Cooperation in Economic and Social Development. The Declaration fully embodied the common understanding of China and Africa on major international and political issues, especially on the establishment of a new international political and economic order and their shared wish to strengthen friendly and cooperative relations. The two sides agreed to establish a new China-Africa partnership featuring long-term stability, equality and mutual benefit. The Program outlined the specific proposals and measures of cooperation between China and Africa in the areas of economy, trade, agriculture, tourism, science and technology, education, culture, health, environment, etc. The two documents constituted a new framework for the development of Sino-African relationship and drew a blueprint for cooperation between China and Africa in all fields in the new century. The Chinese side undertook to reduce or cancel debt totaling 10 billion RMB Yuan borne by the heavily indebted poor countries and least developed countries in Africa in the following two years; to set aside special funds to support and encourage investment and cooperation in African countries by well-established Chinese enterprises; and to establish the African Human Resources Development Fund for the training of professionals for African countries.

The First Senior Officials Meeting in preparation for the First Ministerial Conference of FOCAC was held in Beijing from 7 to 9 October 2000.

The Second Senior Officials Meeting was held in Addis Ababa, Capital of Ethiopia, from 25 to 26 November 2002. The meeting reviewed the implementation of follow-up actions of the First Ministerial Conference and made preparations for the Second Ministerial Conference.

Following the First Ministerial Conference, China cancelled RMB 10.9 billion of debts for 31 heavily indebted poor countries or least developed countries in Africa; set up the African Human Resources Development Fund, sponsored nearly 300 training courses and trained nearly 7,000 African professionals in diplomacy, economic management, national defense, agriculture, education, science and technology, culture and health.

Source: www.focac.org