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Africa summit not an attempt to rival China, official says

Taiwan has no intention of attempting to rival China by holding gala meetings to woo African countries, a foreign ministry official said on Saturday.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman David Wang (王建業) made the remarks late on Saturday in response to a story by the Chinese-language United Evening News, which claimed that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) had demanded the ministry organize a Taiwan-African summit this September as large as the China-Africa Cooperation Forum held in Beijing late last year.

53 countries

The report said Chen had ordered the ministry to invite at least one representative from each of Africa's 53 countries to the planned Taiwan-Africa Progressive Partners Forum, which the newspaper alleged would take place on Sept. 9 and Sept. 10.

The ministry denied that the report was accurate.

The presidents of five African allies will attend a summit this September focusing on information, health and sustainable development, the ministry said.

Taiwan maintains diplomatic ties with Burkina Faso, Malawi, Swaziland, Gambia and Sao Tome and Principe in Africa.

open to all

The second day of the forum will be open to all African nations, including those that do not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, to enable the African countries to exchange ideas with Taiwan and each other.

The summit will focus on how Taiwan can assist its African allies in coping with the challenges of globalization, the ministry said, adding that issues to be discussed will include environmental protection, biotourism, solar-powered energy, public health services and agricultural development.

providing help

Taiwan works with African countries either through official channels or via nongovernmental organizations.

Taiwan's main objective in those relationships is to help these countries develop further, Wang said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang (黃志芳) will travel to Africa next month to invite the leaders of the nation's five diplomatic allies to the summit and forum, he said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
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