Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Lu Guozeng awarded certificates to African journalists attending the 3rd Workshop for African Journalists on March 16, 2006.

Vice Minister Lu warmly welcomed the African journalists on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and wished them a pleasant stay in China. He also encouraged the journalists to share their experience in China with the African people, and to report China and China-Africa relations in an objective manner.

Ms. Abbas Ahmed Zeinab, spokeswoman of the group, thanked the Chinese side on behalf of the African journalists, for its hospitality and thoughtful arrangements. She highly appreciated the achievements China has acquired since it adopted the policy of reform and opening-up to the outside world. She also expressed the willingness of African journalists to report their experience in China and to contribute to the promotion of China-Africa friendship.

The Workshop is sponsored by the Secretariat of the Chinese Follow-up Committee of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. 42 journalists from 23 English-speaking African countries attended the Workshop.