On June 16, 2009, the Seminar between China and the West African Development Bank (BOAD) on Cooperation and Development was held in Shanghai. PBC Deputy Governor Ma Delun and BOAD President Abdoulaye BIO-TCHANE attended the opening ceremony and made addresses. Over 100 participants were present at the seminar, including directors of BOAD member states, BOAD officials and representatives of relevant Chinese government departments, financial institutions and enterprises.
The seminar aimed to promote mutual understanding between China and West African countries, enhance their economic and trade cooperation and encourage Chinese financial institutions and enterprises to go abroad and explore West African markets. At the seminar, introductions were given to commercial investment opportunities in West Africa and business development of Chinese financial institutions and enterprises in the region.
On June 15, the 73rd meeting of the BOAD Board of Directors was held in Shanghai. This was the first time that the BOAD Board of Directors met in an Asian country.
The BOAD, established in 1973, is a sub-regional inter-government financial institution for development under the West African Economic and Monetary Union. Its objective is to promote West African economic integration and balanced economic development among its member states. It is headquartered in Lom??, capital of Togo. China joined the BOAD in November 2004.
