[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 11 (Monday, March 22, 1999)]
[Pages 461-462]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
United States-Africa Ministerial Joint Communique

March 18, 1999

    From March 15-18, 1999 the United States hosted the first-ever 
meeting of African and American Ministers to enhance the U.S.-Africa 
partnership in order to foster greater economic development, trade, 
investment, political reform, and mutual economic growth in the 21st 
century. The President, eight members of the Cabinet, and four agency 
heads met for the first time with the African delegations. Eighty-three 
Ministers from forty-six sub-Saharan African nations, representatives 
from four North African nations, and the heads of eight African regional 
organizations participated in this historic and successful meeting. 
African Ministers also met with members of the U.S. Congress.
    In an effort to consolidate and build upon the significant progress 
achieved in Africa in recent years, Ministers and senior U.S. officials 
discussed concrete ways to accelerate Africa's integration into the 
global economy. African Ministers expressed strong support for the 
immediate passage by Congress of the African Growth and Opportunity Act 
and for continued implementation of the President's Partnership for 
Economic Growth and Opportunity.
    U.S. and African Ministers engaged in an active exchange on a broad 
range of economic, political, and social issues. They shared the view 
that high indebtedness constitutes a serious constraint to sustainable 
development in many African countries. In response to African requests 
for more effective debt relief, President Clinton proposed a six-point 
expanded debt relief program for highly indebted poor countries, which 
was warmly welcomed by the African ministers.
    African and American officials discussed trade finance, market 
access, and access to private investment capital for ventures in Africa. 
Initiatives to enhance trade and investment links and economic policy 
dialogue were discussed as well as efforts to improve transportation and 
communications infrastructure and cooperation in agribusiness and 
energy. Ministers also reaffirmed the importance of addressing 
environmental issues. They noted that early ratification by the U.S. 
Senate of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification will help to 
mobilize community and international efforts to better manager land and 
water resources.
    African Ministers and their U.S. counterparts exchanged ideas on how 
to enhance Africa's ability to compete in the global market through the 
development of its greatest resource--its people. Emphasizing the need 
for accelerating reform and continued development assistance as well as 
trade and investment, participants examined ways to bolster human 
capacity through investment in education, skills training, gender 
equity, micro-enterprises and health, particularly the prevention of 
HIV/AIDS. All agreed that these steps will accelerate the ability of 
Africa to sustain socio-economic development and reduce poverty. They 
also recognized the crucial role of regional cooperation in the overall

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development process and in the integration of African states into the 
global economy.
    Recognizing that sub-Saharan Africa is a vast and diverse region 
marked by serious problems as well as significant successes, Ministers 
examined ways to enhance U.S.-Africa cooperation to prevent and resolve 
conflicts. They also agreed on the importance of strengthening 
democratic institutions and respect for worker and human rights, 
accelerating economic reform, and creating a positive climate for 
business through political and social reforms. Ministers noted that the 
Ministerial illuminated the breadth and depth of the U.S.-Africa 
partnership, and set it on a firm foundation for future mutual 
advancement in the 21st century. All recognized the need for continuing 
dialogue and agreed to work out the means of ensuring regular and timely 
follow-up.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint statement.