Wanning (CNS) – Over 1,600 Chinese enterprises have been established in Africa, creating almost 350,000 job opportunities for local people, said Lv Guozeng, former vice foreign minister, at the second China-Africa Cooperation Roundtable Conference in Wanning, south China's Hainan Province, on November 10.
China has been Africa's largest trade partner for two years in a row. The trade volume between China and Africa reached 126.9 billion USD in 2010, and China-Africa trade volume grew by 30.3% over the first three quarters of this year, added Lv.
Africa has become China's second largest China's overseas engineering contracting market, second largest source of oil imports and fourth largest investment destination.
China had given total of 21.6 billion yuan (3.4 billion USD) in aid to African counties between November 2009 and August 2011. China has provided government scholarships for over 20,000 African students, and over 30,000 people have received training in China, said Lv.
Apart from economic cooperation, China and Africa have made considerable progress in many aspects, including education, culture and technology, Lv pointed out. He said China has constructed 100 green agricultural projects for African countries, and donated medical devices and disease-resistant supplies.
"China will attach great importance to African countries' interests as always," Lv said. "And will help Africa develop economy and protect its legitimate rights and interests in the international community."