Xi announces 10 major programs to boost China-Africa cooperation in coming 3 years

President Xi Jinping delivers a speech during a welcome banquet for the summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dec 3, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

JOHANNESBURG - President Xi Jinping announced Friday that his country will roll out 10 major programs to strengthen cooperation with Africa in the coming three years.

The programs cover the areas of industrialization, agricultural modernization, infrastructure, financial services, green development, trade and investment facilitation, poverty reduction and public welfare, public health, people-to-people exchanges, and peace and security.

Meanwhile, China will offer $60 billion to ensure smooth implementation of the initiatives, added the president.

China and Africa have always been a community of common destiny, with the same historical experiences and the same course of struggle having made the two peoples forge profound friendship, Xi said.

China-Africa comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership

China proposes that the new type of the China-Africa strategic partnership be upgraded to a comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership, said Xi.