November 22 through 23, 2006, China and the West African Development Bank (BOAD) jointly held a China Day event in Lome, Togo. The Chinese delegation to the event wasled by Mr. Ma Delun, Assistant Governor of the People’s Bank of China and included around 100 delegates from the People’s Bank of China, Ministry ofAffairs, Ministry of Commerce, China Exim Bank, China Development Bank, Chinese enterprises, as well as the Chinese Ambassador and Economic and Commercial Counsellor to Togo. Mr. Yaovi Ajboyibo, Prime Minister of Togo, as well as around 500 delegates from the Committee of West African Economic and Monetary Union(UEMOA), West African States Central Bank, member country governments of BOADand their enterprises attended the event.
During the China Day, a seminar was held with an aim to introduce the experience of China in its development as well as the economic, trade and investment environment of West Africa, and discuss the ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Chinaand BOAD member countries. The Chinese delegates introduced the process and experiences gained over the past 28 years in economic reform and opening up and China’s policies to Africa, while the delegates from BOAD and UEMOA spoke on the economic program of the West African region. Participants of both parties also discussed on matters such as improving the economic, trade and investmentenvironment of West Africa, strengthening the bilateral cooperation of both parties, etc. During the meetings, Chinese and West African enterprises conducted a widespread exchange of views and discussed the opportunities of cooperation.
During the China Day, on behalf of the Chinese government, Assistant Governor Ma Delun signed with BOAD an Agreement on Bilateral Technology Cooperation Fund with a value of USD1 million. The China Exim Bank signed a 70 million Euro credit line agreement with the BOAD to support UEMOA member countries having diplomatic relations with China in purchasing electro mechanical and high-tech equipments produced by China, and to support cooperation between Chinese companies and those from UEMOA member countries in the areas of energy development and construction engineering, for projects in the fields of industry, telecom, energy, transportation, agricultural development, tourism, and other fields agreed by both parties. The signing of the two agreements marked the beginning of deeper cooperation between China and West Africa.
The China Day is a follow up activity of the Beijing Summit of the Sino-Africa Cooperation Forumin early November. It is of great significance for deepening mutual understanding between China and countries in West Africa and further strengthening cooperation between China and BOAD as well as its member countries.
