The China–Africa summit referred to in December’s Dossier has ended with 11 African countries concluding US$1.9billion worth of deals with 11 Chinese companies.

The 16 commercial contracts and agreements covered cooperation in natural resources, infrastructure, technology, communications and fi nance, according to Wan Jifei, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. By far the biggest deal, worth US$938million, involved the production of aluminium in Egypt.

China and the 48 African nations that attended the two-day summit also adopted an action plan to strengthen political and economic links over the next three years.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said that China intended to more than double its bilateral trade with Africa to US$100billion by
2010. Beijing will also cancel more debt owed by poor African countries, he added, although he didn’t provide specifics.

In addition, the Chinese government will double aid and offer US$5billion in loans and credits to Africa by 2009, said Chinese President Hu Jintao at the summit’s opening.

He also pledged that China would further open up its market to Africa by increasing the number of tariff - free products from the continent from 190 to 440, and establish up to five trade and economic cooperation zones there. “China will forever be a good friend, good partner and good brother of Africa,” Hu said.