Niger to boost cooperation with China

BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou said on Friday that the outcome of the Fifth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will boost cooperation between Niger and China.

Issoufou said that the new measures in China-Africa cooperation, proposed by Chinese President Hu Jintao, show China's resolve to strengthen the cooperation, during a press conference in Beijing.

Issoufou said that since the establishment of the FOCAC in 2000, the forum has greatly promoted friendship between Africa and China.

"China has provided great financial help to Africa," Issoufou said.

The total volume of trade between Africa and China reached 166 billion U.S. dollars in 2011, three times that of the 2006 figure, and as of present, China's direct investment to Africa has approached 15 billion U.S. dollars, he added.

Issoufou said that China-Africa cooperation is based on mutual trust and benefit without any neocolonialism.

He also spoke highly of China's support to Africa's integration and efforts made to maintain peace and stability in African countries.

"China will provide 20 billion dollars of credit to African countries to assist them in developing infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, and small and medium-sized enterprises, which is great help to the development of key areas in African countries," he said.

Issoufou also emphasized that China and Africa should cooperate more in foreign study, culture and sports to create brighter future for young people from both sides.