The tour was part of the diplomatic program of the CPPCC, promoting mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation between China and the three African countries.

During the past five years since 1998, the Ninth National Committee of the CPPCC sent 88 delegations to 76 countries and played host to 69 delegations from 34 countries. It had built friendly ties with 158 organizations in 95 countries and six international or regional organizations by the end of 2002.

A delegation from the Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPPCC National Committee visited Panama, Bethlehem, Nicaragua and Dominica last July, engaging in wide contacts with people in political, industrial and commercial circles.

The CPPCC National Committee has also established ties with major overseas non-governmental organizations.

Such high-level diplomatic activities promoted Sino-foreign exchanges, gave publicity to China's social and economic development and expanded the influence of the CPPCC.

The Foreign Affairs Committee has also issued circulars on six occasions stating its firm support for the Chinese government on political and diplomatic matters.

In September 2001, the CPPCC National Committee sponsored a conference entitled the Twenty-first Century Forum with the theme of dialogue between different civilizations.

It also hosted painting exhibitions featuring Chinese artists in New York and Tokyo in 1999 and 2000 respectively.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2003)