广播听力: 3rd Conference of Chinese, African Entrepreneurs Opens

This is the second time Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has taken part in the Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs. In his speech, he pointed out that through cooperative efforts, the African-Chinese economic and trade cooperation has made many achievements. China has now become Africa's second largest trading partner. More than 53 African countries have trade contacts with China. By the end of 2008, the total volume of trade had reached 100 billion U.S. dollars.

"Over the past three years, half of the Chinese assistance funds for African countries has been put towards the livelihood of the people. Among them, ten agricultural technology demonstration centers will be built, which we hope will help the African people say farewell to hunger; and 100 primary schools will be set up to prevent children in Africa from dropping out of school. What's more, China is sending and will continue to send more and more experts and young volunteers to Africa to help them build a better homeland."

Premier Wen also reiterated that Chinese assistance to Africa is sincere and without any additional political conditions, and that China will expand the scale of assistance in African countries and make such assitance more economically and socially effective. (www.hXen.com)

Speaking at the ceremony, Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazef also highlighted the significance of Chinese-African cooperation.

"Strengthening the African-Chinese cooperation in investment, trade and technical fields is very important. Such cooperation will help both sides to cope with the challenges facing the global economy, which sets a good example for other developing countries."

The 3rd Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs is one of a series of meetings held prior to the fourth ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Trade and industry ministers as well as over 800 business people from both sides attended the meeting.

Zheng Chenguang, CRI news.