Hello, and welcome to this edition of  Africa Express here on China Radio International. I'm your host, Wei Tong.

China and Africa recently marked the one year anniversary of the unprecedented Beijing Summit held last November at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

With their joint efforts, China and Africa have further implemented the results of the Summit, encouraged a new China-Africa strategic partnership and deepened pragmatic cooperation.

Heads of state, government officials and representatives from forty-eight African countries participated in the Beijing Summit. It was the largest event between the two sides since China and Africa initiated diplomatic relations fifty years ago.

Both sides agreed to develop a new strategic partnership on the basis of political equality and mutual trust, economic cooperation, mutual benefits and cultural exchanges. The Chinese government announced eight measures dedicated to support and assist African development. In the past year, many Chinese and African leaders met with each other.

Chinese State Counselor Tang Jiaxuan notes both sides are actively implementing the results of the Summit.

"The eight measures increase the assistance from China to Africa. Some debts and export duties in bilateral trade have almost been exempted. We have begun to construct the African Union Conference Center. What's more, a China-Africa Development Fund has been initiated."

As one of the eight measures, China plans to build ten agricultural technology centers in Africa and send 100 senior experts there to guide the locals in increasing grain output. The first one is now in operation in Mozambique.

Tang Jiaxuan says China-Africa friendship and cooperation complies with the common interests of both sides and brings benefits to world peace, regional development and stability.

Malaria is notorious for its high rate of infection and mortality. It is considered one of the most deadly tropical diseases. A report issued by the World Health Organization says around 400,000 people are infected by malaria every year and eighty percent of them live in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria brings great economic loss to the continent, costing 12 billion US dollars per annum. China has pledged to set up 30 malaria control and treatment centers on the continent within the next few years. The first center opened early this year in Liberia.

Chinese president Hu Jintao advocated China strengthening its friendship with Africa from generation to generation and building harmonious society when he spoke at Pretoria University of South Africa earlier this year.

"The friendship between China and Africa dates back thousands of years,   although we are far apart in distance. Chinese and African people were, are and will be sincere friends forever. We respect and assist each other, achieve mutual benefits and make progress together."

The China-Africa Cooperation Forum not only consolidated bilateral political ties but promoted cooperation in education and culture. More importantly, it enhanced mutual understanding between the two nations. Here is Oche Ogaba, a research fellow at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs.
 
"The forum opened vistas of cooperation between China and Africa as a whole. And one thing the forum did very, very crucially is the fact that it enhanced the consciousness about China, the potential of ties between African countries and China because after that forum, in Nigeria, for example, there were many workshops, seminars concerning China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized the conference and discussed issues pertaining to China. And Africa's links with China were the major concern of the discussion. Africans embrace China. I think there is a lot of potential for Nigeria, China and Africa ties."

So far, China has trained more than 4,000 Africans in various fields. By the end of September, China-Africa bilateral trade topped 52 billion US dollars, a 30 percent increase over the same period last year.

Now that wraps up this edition of 'Africa Express'. If you would like to listen to this or other stories again, please log onto our website at: www.crienglish.com. You can also contact us via email through: africaexpress@crifm.com. I'm Wei Tong. I hope you can tune in to our program again next time. Bye for now!