Chinese premier hails OAU summit, AU birth
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Xinhuanet 2002-07-08 17:39:20
BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhuanet) --
Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji hailed here on Monday the
achievements of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and
the birth of the African Union (AU).
In his congratulatory message
for the opening ceremony of the last OAU summit, scheduled
for July 8-10 in Durban, South Africa, Premier Zhu said:
"The OAU has gone through a glorious course of 39
years, during which it has made significant contribution to
African countries' efforts to win national independence and
political liberation and to the promotion of peace,
stability and development of Africa."
The AU, which will officially
replace the OAU in Durban on July 9, in the presence of most
of the African leaders, is launched to foster Africa's
prosperity and democracy in the 21st century through social,
economic and regional integration.
"Today, the governments
and peoples of all African nations are writing a new chapter
in the annals of African development by rejuvenating the
Pan-African spirit and realizing the transition from the OAU
to AU," Zhu said.
"I
have every reason to believe that, as a key milestone in the
course of African development, the AU will uphold and carry
forward the spirit of solidarity and cooperation of the OAU,
and lead African nations and people in their unswerving
endeavor to rise to the challenges of globalization and the
new century, and turn into reality the long-cherished, noble
hope of African revitalization," he added.
Zhu also stressed that to
consolidate and enhance friendly relations and cooperation
with African nations and regional organizations remains an
important part of China's independent foreign policy of
peace.
"At present, the
traditional friendship between China and Africa has struck
root in people's hearts with ever-expanding, China-Africa,
mutually beneficial cooperation," he said.
"The Chinese government
will, as always, support the unity and cooperation of
African nations, the growth of the AU and the implementation
of the New Partnership For African Development," Zhu
said.
He added that China
stood ready to join hands with the AU and the vast number of
African nations in establishing the new China-African
partnership of long-term stability, equality and mutual
benefit through the effective mechanism of the Forum on
China-Africa Cooperation. Enditem