This is a summary of today's Summit proceedings from the AFP

LIBREVILLE, Jan 18 (AFP)- African countries must work together with their
international partners to reduce poverty on the world's poorest continent,
Gabonese President Omar Bongo said at the start of a summit here Tuesday.
Host Bongo said that "innovative and concrete solutions" were necessary to
pursue the goals of "reducing poverty and strenghthening democracy, peace
and security in Africa" as well as consolidating regional integration and
improving the management of public affairs.  IMF director general said, for
his part: "Africa is ready for a new renaissance."  He added: "African
countries have achance to take the initiative to consolidate the gains of
the past decade, but also to go much furth
er."

World Bank Vice President for Africa Jean-Louis Sarbib said the summit was
a "new landmark in the discussions between the Bretton Woods institutions
and African countries" for the continent's development.  He lamented that
"the distribution of incomes is most unequal in Africa.
ADB President Omar Kabbaj agreed: "We must devote all our attention to a
more equal distridution of wealth."  THE SUMMIT CONTINUES TOMORROW.

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