On June 30, 2007, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao sent a congratulatory message to the 9th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), which is held in Accra, capital of Ghana. The full text of the message is as follows:

Assembly of Heads of State and

Government of the African Union

Accra

Beijing, 30 June 2007

On the occasion of the assembly, I wish to extend, on behalf of the Chinese government and in my own name, warm congratulations.

This year marks the 5th anniversary of the AU, which took the baton from the Organization for African Unity. The AU has led the African people on a journey of development and renaissance during the past five years. The AU has grown in strength and played an important role in upholding peace and stability in Africa, promoting African integration and coordinating the position of the African countries on international issues. We are pleased with the AU's remarkable achievements in pushing for Africa's peace and development.

Besides, this year also holds great opportunities for China-Africa relations as it is the first year of implementing the decisions reached in the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. The Chinese government will carry forward the fine tradition of China-Africa friendship and boost its cooperation with African countries and the AU to build on the success of the Beijing Summit and strengthen the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership for the benefit of our peoples.

I wish the Assembly a complete success.

(Signed) Wen Jiabao

Premier of the State Council

People's Republic of China