The ministerial conference adopted Addis Ababa Action Plan (2004-2006) to be implemented for the next three years. The Action Plan would serve as a guideline for cooperation between the two sides and would facilitate the implementation of the principles and objectives set out in the Beijing Declaration and the Program for China -Africa Cooperation in Economic and Social Development. The two parties have expressed their determination to make the new China - Africa partnership highly dynamic and effective by working together to implement the Action Plan by taking concrete measures.

It is to be recalled that the China - Africa Cooperation Forum was established in 2000 within the framework of collective dialogue between China and African countries to promote peace and development on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. Over the past three years, progress has been made in strengthening follow-up mechanism, making the forum an effective platform for the two sides to enhance consultation and cooperation under a new situation. The forum has laid a solid political foundation for the implementation of the follow-up actions of the forum. The forum mechanism has also facilitated development of friendly and cooperative relations between the two sides in different fields.

Much has been done within the framework of the Beijing Declaration in the economic and social development. African countries have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen their cooperation with China and expressed appreciation to China in making significant debt cancellation of 10.5 billion Yuan for 31 African countries. The Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said China's exemplary endeavor to ease African countries' debt problem is indeed a true expression of solidarity and commitment.

The Second Ministerial Conference further forged a new chapter in the Sino - African friendship and cooperation. China's Premier Wen Jiabao, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and other heads of state or government from 13 African countries attended the Forum. Government delegations of over 44 African countries headed by foreign ministers and ministers in charge of international economic cooperation, and representatives of some international and regional organizations attended the Ministerial Conference which was held for the first time in the African Continent.

The Chinese government expressed firm commitment to increase its cooperation with African counteries under the forum's framework., China and African countries have also resolved among others to work closely in multilateral cooperations, agriculture, infrastructure, two-way trade, investment, tourism cooperation, debt relief, development assistance, and social development. The two sides have further agreed to step up their high-level exchanges and political consultations and will also jointly work on the issues of peace and security and in fighting terrorism.

China is committed to open its market, and grant duty free market access for some of the commodities from the least developed countries in Africa, to increase the African Human Resource Development Fund by 33 percent, and to provide professional training of various kinds to 10,000 African personnel in the next three years. These measures are indeed very important to many African countries for favorable treatment for their products would highly contribute to address the trade imbalance between the two sides, while increasing the Human Resource Development Fund would play a significant role in addressing the shortage of trained manpower. The Chinese side has also expressed its desire to cooperate with African countries in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, in the prevention of natural disasters and in environmental protection.

The Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in the opening ceremony of the second Ministerial Conference that China would encourage and facilitate mutual beneficial cooperation between Chinese and African enterprises, and encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Africa. The Chinese government would further simplify the approval procedures for Chinese enterprises interested to involve in investment activities in Africa. To step up tourism cooperation with Africa, China grants eight more African countries the status of approved destination for outbound Chinese tourists.

China and African countries pledged to take concrete measures in the areas of priorities enshrined in program and framework of NEPAD. Being Africa's principal agenda for development - NEPAD provides holistic, comprehensive, and integrated strategic framework for the Socio-economic development of Africa, with in the institutional framework of the African Union. And under the framework of China - Africa Cooperation Forum, China could play a positive role by taking concrete measures to strengthen cooperation with African countries, regional organizations, and sub - regional organizations in priority sectors identified under the NEPAD.

In order to promote the direct exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and African entrepreneurs, China - Africa Business Conference was also held from 14 to 16 December 2003, parallel to the Ministerial Conference of the Forum. The Business Conference was organized with a view to create an opportunity for the entrepreneurs of both sides to know each other and develop better understanding through exchange of ideas on business opportunities between the two sides. The objective of the Business Conference was to encourage the business communities to take part in China - Africa cooperation Forum in various fields. To this effect, more than 320 Chinese and African entrepreneurs and executives participated in the conference and discussed possible business cooperation. At the conclusion, 14 different memorandums of understanding worth 600 million USD were signed between the Chinese and various African companies among which six are Ethiopian companies.

In the final analysis, as the Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin said the political dialogue between Africa and China created new meaning and have become more business like. The following three years would be a time for implementing mutual beneficial cooperation between the two sides. China would continue to promote all round cooperation with African nations, the African Union and the sub-regional organizations.

By hosting the conference of China - Africa Cooperation Forum, for the first time in Africa, Ethiopia is serving as a bridge in strengthening the relationship between Africa and China. Bilateral ties between Ethiopia and China have been fast growing in the past decade, and the present excellent relationships between the two sides is expected to further expand as the government leaders of the two sides expressed their commitment to work more closely to further boost bilateral ties.