China wants 'new partnership' with Africa

China wants to build a "new type of strategic partnership" with Africa, Premier Wen Jiabao said as he continued his visit on the continent.

Wen announced Beijing's plan of expanded influence while wrapping up a visit to South Africa before the next leg of a seven-nation African tour which saw him traverse the continent from Cairo to Cape Town.

"The Chinese government, guided by the principle of sincerity, friendship, equality, mutual benefit and common development, is committed to building a new type of strategic partnership with Africa," Wen told a Sino-South African business forum in Cape Town.

"To accomplish this we will ... enhance political equality and mutual trust, promote win-win economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and maintain close cooperation in international affairs," the Chinese leader said.

Trade between China and Africa reached around 40 billion dollars in 2005, a rise of 35 percent from a year earlier and almost four times higher than in 2001.

Wen's visit -- the third high-level Chinese diplomatic trip to Africa in less than six months -- follows visits earlier this year by Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and President Hu Jintao.

Wen promised steps to expand economic and trade ties and help Africa by offering zero-tariff treatment for some exports and increased aid and debt relief, while at the same time helping to build infrastructure.

"We take the concerns of some African countries on trade deficit and textiles seriously and are working to address these issues," said Wen.

South Africa and China on Wednesday penned a landmark trade deal which will restrict Chinese textile imports to South Africa and cushion the blow to an already beleaguered industry.

"The fact that we signed a textile agreement is proof in our relations that we are willing to walk an extra mile," South Africa's Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka told the forum.

"We hope that we can save some of the jobs and some of the industry," she said.

South Africa and China also signed a peaceful nuclear cooperation pact which local officials said would include closer work on the development of pebble bed modular reactors -- seen by South Africa as the answer to its own growing quest for new energy resources.

While in South Africa, Wen concluded a major deal with the African country's petroleum giant SASOL which will see a second phase study on the mainland to probe the possibility of an 80,000 barrel-per-day chemical plant which turns coal into oil.

A second similar deal was concluded Wednesday.

Wen and his entourage left South Africa for Tanzania on Thursday morning, sources said, after which he will travel to Uganda.