国内英语新闻:China urged to explore investment opportunities in COMESA

HARARE, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Secretary-General Sindiso Ngwenya on Tuesday urged China to enter into joint ventures with Africa's largest regional trading and economic grouping to capitalize on the customs union that was launched last year.

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, boasting 19 member states and a population of more than 450 million, is endowed with vast natural and human resources that make it a fertile investment destination, Ngwenya said.

"With a combined population of 456 million and a combined Gross Domestic Product of 450 billion U.S. dollars, this region is very rich in natural resources, rich in human resources and land for agriculture.

"This region will therefore become the region of first choice for investment and has the potential to feed the whole world," Ngwenya told Xinhua in an interview.

He said China should take COMESA as its preferred investment destination and increase trade with Africa's largest trading and economic grouping.

Ngwenya has previously urged more Chinese investment in the manufacturing sector so that Africa can move up the value chain and increase the incomes of its people while ensuring that less wealth is exported abroad.

Trade between COMESA countries and China has also been growing by between 50 percent and 100 percent depending on the country, but on average by more than 50 percent annually and by the end of 2008 China-Africa trade was approaching the 100 billion U.S. dollars, according to Ngwenya.

Ngwenya said the COMESA Customs Union presented immense opportunities for the Asian giant to deepen and consolidate economic cooperation with member states, most of whom it had strong bilateral, economic and political ties with. China has diplomatic relations with nearly all African countries.