The eight measures that China's government pledged to help promote the development of Africa have been implemented smoothly, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister ZhaiJun said in Beijing on Tuesday.

China had provided assistance to 47 African countries and signed agreements with 15 countries to provide preferential loans, Zhai said in an online interview with Xinhuanet.com.

The foundation had been laid for building the conference center for the African Union and construction would start next year, and a China-Africa development fund is operating, he said.

China is working to establish trade and economic cooperation zones in Zambia, Mauritius and Nigeria and had trained 5,000 personnel in various fields for African countries, he said.

China has sent 75 youth volunteers to Africa and increased the number of Chinese government scholarships to African students from 2,000 up to 2,700, Zhai said.

Preparation for building hospitals, agricultural technology demonstration centers and malaria prevention and treatment centers is in progress, he added.

These measures were announced by Chinese President Hu Jintao during last year's Beijing Summit. The aid effort includes a package of major assistance, investment, trade and other key cooperation projects with Africa in an effort to forge a new type of strategic partnership and strengthen cooperation in more areas and at a higher level.

Zhai said China will work closely with African countries to earnestly and steadily fulfill the eight measures so as to benefit African countries and their people.

(Xinhua News Agency December 26, 2007)