Accra, Oct. 8, GNA - The Ghana-China Friendship Association (GHACHIFA) in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy is to establish a cultural centre in Ghana, to teach the Chinese language and culture. Mr Henry Yaw Mallet, Chairman of the Publicity Committee of GHACHIFA said:

"The Centre which is expected to be completed in 12 months will also provide an opportunity for Chinese residents in Ghana to learn the nation's rich culture and some local languages.

"This move will therefore strengthen the relationship between the two countries both in economic and social sector", he said. Mr. Mallet was speaking at a media briefing to outline activities marking the 60th Anniversary Celebration of the People's Republic of China on Thursday in Accra.

He said as part of the association's goal to create an enabling environment for business to thrive in both countries, a similar village would be established in China.

"In our quest to building a vibrant relationship between the two nations we have organised two different forums dubbed: "Doing Business in Ghana in a Friendly Way" and "The Ghanaian Way of Life. "The first event was to educate the citizens of China in Ghana on how to appreciate the Ghanaian and live harmoniously with them whiles the other forum dealt with the notion of some people that China has made Ghana a dumping ground for cheep products," he said.

Mr. Mallet said as part of the activities lined up, there would be a Public Lecture dubbed: "Tertiary Education in China and Its Contribution to China's Astronomic Development."

He suggested the need for Ghana to position itself to be able to join the global competition and attract its due share of the global investment by creating the right conditions for investment such as opening up the economy.

He expressed appreciation to China for its numerous support to the nation in sectors such as agriculture, energy, and roads construction. Mr. Mallet said China was the number one on the League of Nations with 383 registered projects from 1994 to 2008 10 of which were in the agricultural sector.

He, therefore, congratulated Chinese companies who have chosen Ghana as a business destination and appealed to them to venture more in the area of agriculture, since China was noted for its potential in agriculture. Mr Duan Xinping, Second Secretary at the Economic and Commercial Counsellor's Office of the Chinese Embassy in Ghana, said GHACHIFA had played a positive role in promoting the friendship between the two countries since its establishment in 1999, stating that his outfit in 2009 alone had issued about 700 visas to Ghanaians to participate in the 145th China Trade Fair to be held on 15 October. Tracing the friendship between the two countries to the era of Ghana's first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, he said after the Beijing Summit in 2006, the two countries had through their relationship obtained good results in the various fields. He said considering the volume of trade between the two countries, it had become necessary for the citizens to learn the language, culture, customs and practices of each country. Mr Xinping appealed to Ghanaian authorities to continue improving the business environment in order to attract more foreign co-operation and investment, and challenged Chinese companies to share their business success with the local community. The President of GHACHIFA, Mr Kojo Amoo-Gottfried, in a brief address, recounted his experience in China as an Ambassador during Dr Kwame Nkrumah's visit to China in 1966. He said China had more than 22 per cent of the world's population and was a guarantor to Ghana's development, adding that "If we have to develop, then we need to do so with a country that supported us in the past, to also support us in the future". 8 Oct. 09