WUHU, Anhui- Any cooperation between Africa and China "is most welcome", said Mauritius Ambassador to China Paul Chong Leung in Wuhu city, Anhui province on Saturday.

African guests show admiration for products in Wuhu-based Chery Heavy Industry. [Photo by Liu Yang/China Daily]

African guests visit workshops of Wuhu-based Chery Heavy Industry[Photo by Liu Yang/China Daily]

Speaking at a forum hosted by Wuhu-based Chery Heavy Industry Co Ltd, the ambassador stressed that as Africa is having agriculture as pillar industry in most countries (accounting for some 80 percent of the economy), there is tremendous scope there for agricultural development and improvement.

He noted that promoting cooperation between Africa and China "is most welcome" as China has achieved tremendous progress in agriculture by feeding its people representing 20 percent of the world population while holding only 10 percent of available land in the world.

The ambassador fully confident of the equipments, machineries and other implements manufactured by Chery Heavy Industry will find "a ready market" in respective African countries and allow the Africans to further develop agriculture on a sounder footing.

Established in 2010, Chery Heavy Industry is a large modern enterprise integrating R&D, manufacturing, sales and services of marine equipment, construction machinery, special vehicle, agricultural equipment and powertrain assembly, and aims to be a world-famous equipment manufacturer by 2020, according to company President Wang Jinfu.

Ibrahim-Akinwale Yetunde, director general of Kwara Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture in Algeria, said she believes that Sino-African co-operation will help to bring mutual benefit and lasting friendship for the people, as there is rich land and tremendous opportunities in Africa.

Mrs Mavis Sibanda, Minister Counselor of the Zimbabwean Embassy in Beijing, emphasized that she hopes to see more Sino-African co-operation in the agricultural sector and more success by Chery Heavy Industry in Zimbabwe.

Besides exporting to African countries, Chery Heavy Industry also exports its line of products to many Asian nations, said company Vice-President Li Xiaogao.

The one-day China-Africa Modern Agriculture Development Summit Forum, which drew more than 100 participants from 20-odd African countries, was organized by Chery Heavy Industry as the first step in showing its determination for globalization, said Ma Shiqing, Vice-President of China Agricultural Mechanization Association.

Chery Heavy Industry President Wang Jinfu promised to establish more agricultural equipment service companies through cooperation in Africa to help the local people develop modern agricultural facilities.

China Daily Anhui Bureau