BEIJING -- The two-session roundtables of Chinese and African leaders attending the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation opened at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing Sunday morning.

China's President Hu Jintao (C) watches Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi (L) and President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou-Nguesso shake hands at the opening ceremony of the China-Africa Summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, November 4, 2006.  [Reuters]

Chinese President Hu Jintao, leaders of the forum's 48 African member countries and African Union Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare attended the morning session.

Two historic documents, a declaration and an action plan for 2007-2009, are expected to be adopted at the summit, with the morning session chaired by President Hu and the afternoon session chaired by Ethiopian Prime Minister Ato Meles Zenawi.

After the two sessions conclude in the afternoon, Chinese, Ethiopia and Egyptian foreign ministers will jointly meet the press.