The launch of the Business Directory 2012 - Doing Business in China and Africa was held at the Beijing Hotel on July 19. The event was a joint effort by ChinAfrica magazine under Beijing Review and the Chinese Society for African Studies.

About 150 people attended the ceremony, including Wei Jianguo, Secretary General of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges and Director of the Chinese Society for African Studies, Wang Gangyi, President and Editor-in-Chief of Beijing Review, Chinese scholars of African studies institutions, representatives of the well-known Chinese enterprises investing in Africa, envoys of African countries and media reporters.

Abulahat Amudurexiti, President of the Chinese-African People's Friendship Association, and Jean Ping, former Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union sent congratulatory messages.

"It is of great significance for the Business Directory 2012 - Doing Business in China and Africa to be published during the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation," said Wei. "A three-year plan will be made at the conference and it will promote a comprehensive and wide-ranging cooperation between China and Africa. Enterprises from China and Africa will definitely find themselves great opportunities to make achievements under the framework of China-Africa cooperation. We hope that the reference book will play a greater role in these favorable situation of China-Africa cooperation."

"The publication of the Business Directory 2012 - Doing Business in China and Africa is an important measure so that ChinAfrica magazine can become more market-oriented and better serve Chinese and African business cooperation. It will surely contribute toward promoting China-Africa economic and trade cooperation and exchanges," said Wang.

The Business Directory 2012 - Doing Business in China and Africa is the first comprehensive collection of information on Chinese enterprises in Africa. Based on experts' research, it also includes industrial development reports, and laws and regulations concerning Chinese enterprises investing in Africa. The authoritative contents and reliable statistics make it the only reference book on China-Africa trade and investment to help Chinese enterprises enter the African market.