According to the EU Council, Over 40 African and 20 European Heads of State and officials will attend the summit, reflecting the high level commitment to the partnership and determination to deepen it.

　　Addressing the opening of 4th Africa-EU Council,EU Council President Von Rompuy valued the partnership with Africa and expressed EU's wishes to enhance the relation comprehensively.

　　The EU considered Africa as important economic partner,saying in a statement that Africa has experienced impressive economic transformation. Its average GDP grew by 5.2 percent annually over the period 2003-2011. In 2012, eight out of the world's 10 fastest growing economies were African.

　　According to the EU,in 2012, the EU accounted for 48 percent of foreign direct investment stocks and 21 percent of global foreign direct investment flows to Africa. African investments in Europe have also made strides over the last 10 years.

　　The EU also emphasized in the statement than Europe remains Africa's biggest development partner. From 2007 and 2013 EU and its member states disbursed around 141 billion euros (194 billion U.S. dollars) in a aid to support Africa's development.