Leaders of China and African countries will launch a summit in Beijing in autumn next year to discuss how to improve China-Africa friendly and cooperative ties, a diplomatic source with the Chinese Foreign Ministry told Xinhua in Beijing Tuesday.

The summit will be held during the third ministerial meeting of the China-Africa Forum, the source said.

Political analysts believe that China regards the development and prosperity of African countries as a foundation and very important precondition for peace and prosperity in the world.

According to the latest official statistics, 47 out of 53 countries on the African continent have established diplomatic relations with China.

Strengthening cooperation with African countries and helping the countries shake off poverty are a very important component of China's foreign policy, based on the principles of peace and independence, which is also one of China's international responsibilities, according to a senior Chinese diplomat, who preferred to remain anonymous.

China and Africa have seen burgeoning political cooperation. In 2004 and 2005, 53 foreign ministers and other senior officials from African countries visited China, and Chinese leaders such as President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing visited African countries.

China also has granted tariff-free treatment to 29 most underdeveloped countries in Africa. Agreements reached at the China-Africa Entrepreneur Conference have been largely implemented and boosted cross-border trade cooperation.

China has scaled up its budget to support human resource training programs in Africa - about 6400 professionals from 48 African countries have been trained under the program in the past two years.

In the public health and sanitary fields, China has sent 37 medical teams with 1100 doctors and medical staff to work in Africa, helping the local people improve public sanitary conditions.

China has attached importance to regional cooperation by sending about 3000 peacekeeping personnel since 1990 to help African countries safeguard local peace and security.

Last September, Chinese President Hu Jintao made a five-point proposal at a UN conference to back the development efforts made by African countries. The proposal includes granting tariff-free treatment to more of the most underdeveloped African countries which have diplomatic relations with China, reducing the debt of underdeveloped countries which have diplomatic relations with China and increasing material, medical and human resource training assistance to African countries.

Source: Xinhua