Between January 30 and February 10, China's President, Hu Jintao, will make a state visit to 8 African countries at their invitation �C Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique and the Seychelles. This is a friendly visit aimed at promoting pragmatic China-Africa cooperation. This is reflected in the fact that President Hu chose Africa for the destination of his first foreign tour in 2007, which closely follows the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held last November.

This is President Hu's fifth visit to Africa since 1999, and his third as the president of the nation. Premier Wen Jiabao toured Africa twice and other members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee have also visited the continent. This is testimony to the great attention the central leadership has paid to Africa in the new century and under new conditions. Hu's current visit is a major diplomatic event which involves the whole of Africa as the eight countries Hu is visiting represent a cross-section of the continent. Importantly, except for South Africa, Hu has never visited the other seven countries on his tour before, which has made his trip a subject of interest in both Africa and the world. His tour is another important milestone in China-Africa relations and is of great significance in strengthening traditional friendships and friendly cooperation.

Despite the geographical distance, China and Africa have enjoyed 2000 years of friendly exchange. Since 1956, when the People's Republic of China established diplomatic ties with African countries, succeeding generations of Chinese leaders have developed progressive policies on Africa, which pushed forward stable political relations and expanded economic cooperation. Of Africa's 53 countries, 48 have established diplomatic relations with China, and the bilateral trade volume has soared from US$12 million in 1956 to more than US$50 billion in 2006. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation initiated by both parties has become an important platform for collective dialogue and pragmatic cooperation, and the Beijing Summit last year was yet another milestone in China-Africa friendly relations. Hu's five-point proposal on promoting a new type of China-Africa strategic partnership �C made during his visit to Nigeria last April �C includes strengthening political trust; expanding economic cooperation; increasing cultural interaction; increasing security cooperation; and coordinating closely in international affairs. It has become an important principle guiding the strengthening of China-Africa friendly ties in new situations.

Africa, with its 53 independent states, half of which are non-aligned nations and one third of which are UN members, constitutes an important force in the international political arena that cannot be neglected by any political group or political force. Today, African countries are China's friends, supporting each other politically and cooperating in business and technology. Today, the China-Africa relationship is at its strongest ever.

It is the Chinese government's policy to consolidate this traditional friendship, increase overall cooperation and realize common development with Africa. Over the years, China has based its diplomatic strategy on developing countries, and Africa is the continent with the largest proportion of developing countries. For decades, China and Africa have needed one another and cooperated for mutual benefit. In the current conditions, there is great potential for the relationship between the two to expand and strengthen.

The author, Huang Zequan, is deputy chairman of the Chinese Research Society of African Affairs (CRSAA); translated by People's Daily Online.