The People's Republic of China has pledged to establish a new strategic partnership with Africa to enhance economic and social cooperation between the two sides and promote sustainable development. In line with this, China has announced eight policy measures including increasing development aid, launching an investment fund, debt relief and zero tariff treatment and build a conference centre for the African Union. Ms. Wang Ke, Counsellor of the African Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, said this on Thursday during the opening of a Professional Programme for African journalists underway in Beijing, China. Twenty-three journalists from 12 African countries including Ghana are participating in the programme, aimed at exposing them to China and her policy towards Africa and enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the wo sides. It is organised by the China Foreign Affairs University and jointly financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce of China. Ms. Wang said China was committed to her pledge made during the 2006 Forum of China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Beijing to double assistance to Africa by 2009 in areas including trade, tourism, human resource development and cultural exchange. She said China would provide two billion dollars in credit assistance to some African countries within the next three years, train African professionals and build hospitals and schools in the rural areas. Ms Wang said implementation of the follow-up actions had progressed smoothly due to concerted efforts by China and Africa, adding that this would go a long way to enhance Sino-Africa relations established over 50 years ago. "Over 50 years, China and African countries have had extensive and fruitful cooperation both in their nation building and in international affairs on the basis of sincerity, mutual benefit, solidarity and common development.” Ms. Wang said since China and Africa belonged to the developing world, strengthening cooperation would enhance growth and enable African countries to have their fair share of development. She said Africa was rich in resources and advised governments and people of Africa to explore development paths suitable to their peculiar conditions. "China has done the same and has made great economic and social strides." Touching on the earthquake that hit the Sichuan Province of China last month, Ms Wang said it had claimed almost 70,000 lives and left 300,000 people injured. She said China was going all out to engage in huge rescue operations and thanked African countries for sending letters of condolence and making valuable cash donations to support the government and people of China. Mr. Ekena Wesley, leader of the group, said the programme would help African journalists to be well positioned to tell the story as it was and foster greater collaboration between Africa and China. Source: GNA