"Premier Zhu's visit to Africa is an important action of China's foreign affairs this year," said Wang who accompanied Zhu to visit the four African countries.

During his two-week tour to Africa from Aug. 25 to Sept. 6, Wang said the Chinese premier exchanged views with leaders of the four countries on bilateral relations and international issues of common concern, and reached consensus in this regard.

During the WSSD, Zhu elaborated the Chinese government's stance on the environmental issues and officially announced the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, showing China's positive attitude and important influence in solving international issues.

Also in the summit, Zhu met respectively with heads of state and government of Britain, Italy, Mongolia, Yugoslavia and more than 20 African countries as well as World Trade Organization (WTO)Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi.

According to Wang, Zhu's visit to Africa is of great significance and has scored positive achievements. "The visit has deepened the friendly relations between China and the four countries," he said.

Premier Zhu also held talks with the presidents and prime ministers of all the four African countries.

Both sides spoken highly of what they have achieved in strengthening bilateral relations, Wang said, adding that the leaders of the four countries also expressed their heart-felt thanks to the Chinese government's support and assistance to them politically and economically.

Zhu's visit, the deputy foreign minister said, also expanded bilateral cooperation in economic relations and trade on the basis of mutual benefit and explored new ways to further promote the two-way growth of economic relations and trade.

During their meetings, Zhu briefed the African leaders on China's economic development and strategies adopted by the Chinese government after China was admitted into the WTO.

"China pays great attention to the bilateral cooperation in economic relations and trade with the four countries," Zhu said. "Both sides should tap potentials in this regard and cultivate new areas to boost the two-way economic relations and trade as well as strengthen cooperation in other sectors."

In response, the leaders of the four countries expressed their hopes that the Chinese enterprises and business people are welcomed to carry out cooperative projects in their respective countries and promised to offer good investment environments and favorable treatments.

Zhu's visit to the four countries ended with a fruitful success featuring 13 bilateral economic cooperative agreements signed between China and the four countries.

According to the deputy foreign minister, Zhu's visit has further promoted the development of Sino-African relations in an all-round way.

"Zhu's visit is another important visit to Africa after Chinese President Jiang Zemin's visit to Africa earlier this year, showing that the Chinese government devotes much attention to the strengthening of bilateral relations between China and African countries," he said.

Maintaining world peace, promoting common development and strengthening unity between China and other developing countries are the cardinal policy of China's foreign affairs, Wang said.

"Since the establishment of the Sino-African Forum, the Sino-African cooperation has entered a new stage of development," he added.

Since 2001, China has signed agreements on debt exemption with 31 African countries and exempted and deducted 10 billion yuan (about US$1.21 billion) of debt, Wang said.

Referring to the WSSD, he said, the just-concluded world summit shows the importance of accelerated development of developing countries to the long-standing world security, which has drawn more attention from international community. "Generally speaking, the summit is successful," Wang said.

All governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations have conducted broad exchanges and held talks with each other at the summit, he said.

On the documents adopted at the summit, all governments have reaffirmed the important principles such as the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, which will enliven the process of global sustainable development.

"Multi-lateralism, multi-cooperation and new partnership advocated at the summit," Wang said, "are all of great significance that will give an impetus to democratizing international relations."

As the largest developing country, China is a major force in the world to cooperate with other countries to maintain sustainable development, Wang said. China has also made marked achievements in environmental protection while rapidly developing its economy.

Premier Zhu's visit to Africa will open a new page in the history of friendly exchanges between China and the four countries, give an impetus to the development of bilateral relations between China and the four countries and play a vital role in promoting Sino-African relations in an all-round way, Wang said.

The Plan of Implementation and the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development adopted at the Earth Summit will exert a far-reaching influence in realizing sustainable development in all countries around the world, Wang concluded.

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2002)