Note from publisher

The relationship between China and the African continent is one of the most significant relationships in the world today.

It is growing and complex and not always understood — not just by those in other parts of the world but Africans and Chinese, too.

We hope to set that right, and that is why China Daily, China's national English-language newspaper, is launching an Africa Weekly edition today.

The Africa edition, the latest addition to our stable of international publications in the United States, Europe and the Asia-Pacific, will aim to be a prime source for news, information, comment and analysis on issues that affect both China and Africa.

Our cover story today is the first of many that will look at the connections between the world's second-largest economy and Africa, and analyze whether the 21st century will turn out to be Africa's as it takes up the high-growth mantle from China and other Asian countries.

The weekly edition, which will be circulated throughout the continent, will have a team of dedicated reporters in both Africa and China and will be a forum for some of the world's leading commentators, who will contribute columns and other opinion articles.

It will also include interviews with African politicians, academics, heads of think tanks and writers as well as the top international experts on the China-Africa relationship.

It will be the only publication on the market that will look in depth at what the precise nature of Chinese involvement in Africa is and also at the prominent role many Africans are now playing in China itself.

We want to look behind the increasing economic ties that have seen Chinese overseas direct investment in Africa increase eight-fold, from $1.6 billion in 2005 to $13.04 billion at the end of 2010, as well as trade that is forecast to be $200 billion this year.

We will feature interviews with figures from Chinese enterprises in Africa and ask them about issues in which our African readers are interested.

We will also interview Africans working for Chinese companies about the issues affecting them. Many Africans today also want to learn Chinese — and study and work in China — and we will produce features and other content on those who have done just that.

Most of all, we want you to enjoy a unique publication.

Zhu Ling is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of China Daily.