尊敬的梅莱斯总理，
尊敬的各位同事、各位嘉宾，
女士们，先生们，朋友们：

今天是值得历史记住的日子。我们中非领导人本着友谊、和平、合作、发展的宗旨，相聚北京，共叙友情，共商推动中非关系发展、促进发展中国家团结合作的大计。首先，我谨代表中国政府和中国人民，并以我个人的名义，对各位同事和嘉宾前来出席会议，表示热烈的欢迎和衷心的感谢！我还要通过在座的非洲各国领导人，向兄弟的非洲人民转达中国人民的亲切问候和良好祝愿！

2000年10月，中非共同倡议成立了中非合作论坛。这是中非深化传统友谊、加强友好合作的重大举措。6年来，论坛先后在北京和亚的斯亚贝巴成功举办了两届部长级会议，已成为中国同非洲国家开展集体对话、交流治国理政经验、增进相互信任、进行务实合作的重要平台和有效机制。

Your Excellency Prime Minister Meles Zenawi,
Distinguished colleagues and guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,

Our meeting today will go down in history. We, leaders of China and African countries, in a common pursuit of friendship, peace, cooperation and development, are gathered in Beijing today to renew friendship, discuss ways of growing China-Africa relations and promote unity and cooperation among developing countries. On behalf of the Chinese Government and people and in my own name, I wish to extend a very warm welcome to you and deep appreciation to you for attending the Summit. I also want to extend, through the African leaders present today, the cordial greetings and best wishes of the Chinese people to the brotherly African people.

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was jointly set up by China and Africa in October 2000, a major initiative taken to promote traditional China-Africa friendship and cooperation. In the six years since then, two ministerial conferences have been held, first in Beijing and then in Addis Ababa. Today, the Forum serves as an important platform and effective mechanism for conducting collective dialogue, exchanging experience in governance and enhancing mutual trust and cooperation in practical terms between China and African countries.