Since the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, or FOCAC, was established in 2000, economic and trade cooperation between China and African countries has seen rapid and stable development. Two-way trade volume rocketed to almost 40 billion U.S. dollars in 2005 after breaking through the 10 billion dollar mark in 2000.
China's vice-Minister of Commerce, Wei Jianguo, attributes the rapid rise to a series of favorable policies implemented by China in Africa. And he says these beneficial trade policies will be further expanded to help improve bilateral economic ties.
 "So far over 190 products imported from Africa have been exempted from tariffs. And we are planning to add more products to the zero-tariff products list."
In addition, China has cancelled debts of 1.4 billion U.S. dollars owed by 31 heavily indebted, underdeveloped countries in Africa.
By the end of 2005, China had helped establish more than 720 projects in Africa, offered over 18,000 governmental scholarships, dispatched more than 15,000 medical personnel, and treated around 170 million African patients.
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Director: Liu Chi