【明報專訊】THE 2018 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the grandest diplomatic occasion China plays host to this year, is to open today (September 3) in Beijing. Of all the 54 African nations, 53 will attend the event, with the only exception of Swaziland, which has diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Last weekend heads of several African nations arrived in Beijing on state visits. Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, is expected to make further announcements on China-Africa cooperation at the summit. As China's investment in and trade with Africa have grown quickly in recent years, there have also been increasing controversies over the role it has played in Africa. It is believed that the Chinese authorities intend to clarify some misunderstandings by virtue of this summit.