China is concerned over the difficulties that African countries are suffering from the global financial crisis and hope to work together with them to tide over the difficulties posed by the crisis, said a Chinese deputy speaker here on Tuesday.

China will continue to increase its aid to Africa despite the impact of the global financial crisis, said Abulaiti Abudurexiti, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

He cited a case in point in the commitment made by Chinese President Hu Jintao during the recent G20 summit in London.

Chinese President Hu said at the summit that his country will, within its capability, continue to increase its aid to Africa, reduce or cancel African countries’ debts, expand its trade and increase investment in Africa, fulfilling the commitments it made during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2006.

Abulaiti, also president of the China-Africa Friendship Association, is on a two-day visit to Ethiopia.

During his talks with Degefi Bula, speaker of the House of Federation, the Chinese deputy speaker said China and Ethiopia have enjoyed long-standing friendship over the past several decades, adding that the two countries have witnessed frequent high-level exchange of visits, stronger mutual political trust and fruitful economic cooperation in recent years.

Degefi, for his part, said Africa and China should enhance coordination in efforts to eliminate the adverse effects of the financial crisis.

He expressed his gratitude to Chinese government for its support to Ethiopia in particular and to Africa in general even in time of global economic meltdown.

Degefi said the Ethio-Chinese relations had a firm foundation and traced as far back in history as the age of maritime voyage.

He said the participation of Chinese investors in Africa is creating jobs for many Africans, which eventually is supporting the economies of the countries.

Degefi said Ethiopia is benefiting from the participation of the Chinese investors engaged in various sectors in the country.

He added Ethiopian is desirous to scale up the relations of the two countries to a higher level.

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