BEIJING, Aug. 12—China-Africa Agricultural Forum co-hosted by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China concluded today in Beijing. After the closing ceremony, a press conference on the Forum was held. Vice Minister Li Jinjun of the International Department and Vice Minister Niu Dun of the Ministry of Agriculture joint some African officials in taking questions from the journalists.

Li Jinjun said the one and half-day Forum was successfully concluded after discussions over all topics in the set agenda and has achieved the expected targets. The Forum, attended by ruling parties within the framework of FOCAC, has served as a collective dialogue for agricultural collaboration between the two continents of Asia and Africa and between the ancient Chinese and African civilizations, said Li.

Over 130 representatives from 18 African countries took part in the Forum, among whom there were 5 senior leaders of African political parties and 11 agricultural ministers. From the Chinese side there were some one hundred representatives from the Central and provincial (or regional) government. It was the highest and largest event ever for agricultural cooperation between China and Africa, and has amply shown the desire and resolution of the two sides for developing agriculture together and for maintaining food security.

Vice Minister Li also said the success of the Forum has elevated the inter-party relations between China and Africa to a new height. The role of inter-party exchanges will be more pronounced in promoting pragmatic cooperation between the two sides in various fields and party-to-party relations will greatly help to drive ahead China-Africa relations in general. Such kind of exchanges will carry on the traditional friendship between the two sides. This Forum will help to achieve greater results in China-Africa agricultural cooperation by letting the two sides translate Africa's resource advantage in agriculture into development advantage, and this event has injected new vigor into the traditional friendly relations between China and Africa and into the new-type of strategic partnership between the two sides, added Li.

Enditem