国内英语新闻:Full text of joint communique of second round of China-Africa foreign ministers

NEW YORK, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The foreign ministers of China and 42 African countries, or their representatives, held their second political consultation in New York on Thursday. Following is the full text of a joint communique issued at the end of consultations:

JOINT COMMUNIQUE OF THE SECOND ROUND OF POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN CHINESE AND AFRICAN FOREIGN MINISTERS

New York, 23 September 2010

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (L, front) chairs the second political consultation between the foreign ministers of China and African Countries at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2010.

In accordance with the mechanism of regular political dialogue between Chinese and African Foreign Ministers set up at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the Foreign Ministers of China and 42 African countries, or their representatives, held their second political consultation in New York on 23 September 2010. The Chairperson of the African Union ( AU) Commission was invited to the consultation.

The meeting was co-chaired by the People's Republic of China and the Arab Republic of Egypt, the two co-chair countries of FOCAC.

The Chinese and African sides had an in-depth exchange of views on strengthening China-Africa cooperation in international affairs, making progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and promoting peace and security in Africa. They reached the following consensus:

1. The two sides applauded FOCAC's important role in guiding the comprehensive and fast growth of China-Africa friendship over the past 10 years since FOCAC's inception, and its contribution to South-South cooperation, common development and the building of a harmonious world. They reaffirmed the commitment of FOCAC member countries to improving the institutional building of FOCAC, strengthening practical cooperation in various areas within the FOCAC framework, enriching the Forum and promoting in-depth development of the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership.

2. The two sides expressed satisfaction with the comprehensive implementation of the follow-up actions of the FOCAC Beijing Summit. They highly appreciated the fact that despite the adverse impact of the global financial crisis, the Chinese government announced new measures for enhancing China-Africa cooperation at the 4th FOCAC Ministerial Conference held in Sharm El Sheikh in 2009.