Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Minister, for being with us this morning. As you know, I visited your country in 2004, for the Sommet de la Francophonie. I was pleased to be in attendance and I am very proud to have had that opportunity.
You stated at the beginning of your opening statement that you are very satisfied with the work of mining companies, particularly a Montreal company—which shall remain nameless—which is involved in gold mining and is working very effectively with the government.
I would like to ask you about China's role on the African continent. I am interested in the way in which China's approach to bilateral and multilateral relations with African countries differs from Canada's?