Promoting African-Chinese cooperation essential for both sides:Egyptian PM

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Promoting African-Chinese cooperation is essential for the interest of both sides, Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazef said here Saturday.

He made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 3rd Conference of Chinese, African Entrepreneurs Saturday afternoon in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

"This conference is a real solid ground to the joint China-African efforts to promote cooperation," said Nazef.

"There has been great progress in the past few years in the exports from China into Africa and from Africa into China," he added.

Ministers of trade, industry and commerce from China and African countries attended the meeting, as well as over 800 businessmen from both sides.

The 3rd Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs is one of a series of meetings held prior to the fourth ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) scheduled for Nov. 8-9.