At the invitation of Madam Xu Jinghu, Secretary-General of the Chinese Follow-up Committee of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and Director General of African Department of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Professor Mucavele, CEO of the NEPAD Secretariat paid a visit to China from July 7 to 14.

During his visit, Prof. Mucavele met Mr. He Yafei, the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and held discussion with Madam Xu in Beijing. The Chinese side briefed Prof. Mucavele China's policy towards Africa, reiterated China's willingness to establish and develop a new type of strategic partnership with Africa featuring political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchanges. Madam Xu said, FOCAC attaches great importance to NEPAD and hopes to enhance consultation and cooperation with the NEPAD secretariat. Prof. Mucavele said, China is a real friend of Africa. The African side wishes to further cooperation with China in both bilateral and multilateral areas. Prof. Mucavele also expressed the NEPAD Secretariat's willingness of participating the preparatory work of upcoming FOCAC Summit which would be held in Beijing from November 4 to 5, 2006.

 

Madam Xu and Prof. Mucavele signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Strengthening Consultation and Cooperation between Secretariat of the Chinese Follow-up Committee of FOCAC and Secretariat of NEPAD on July 12, 2006.

 

During his visit in China, Prof. Mucavele also visited Si Chuan Province and Shanghai, where he met the leaders of the relevant local governments as well as visited local projects of infrastructure, agriculture, irrigation works, disease prevention and control, professional training and distant education.