The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has traversed an extraordinary path since its inception in 2000, and with the expansion of the FOCAC family and improvement of its mechanisms, the forum has guided and driven the fast development of China-Africa relations across the board, said Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Ming addressing the opening ceremony of the 10th Senior Officials' Meeting of FOCAC in Pretoria, South Africa on December 9, 2014.

Zhang said that the trade volume between China and Africa has grown rapidly, reaching $210 billion in 2013, 21 times that of 2000. For every $100 worth of goods exported by Africa in 2013, nearly $20 of them were bought by China, in comparison with only $3 in 2000.

Zhang said that investment and financing cooperation between China and Africa has moved forward fast. China's total direct investment in Africa is nearly $30 billion and Chinese commercial loans to Africa have exceeded $50 billion, with cooperation projects all over the African continent.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Ming delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the 10th Senior Officials' Meeting of FOCAC, Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa, December 9, 2014. (Photo by Li Jianguo)

Personnel exchanges between the two sides have become increasingly close. In 2013, 1.895 million visits were made by Chinese nationals with Africa as their first stop and 553,000 visits were made by Africans to China.

Zhang stressed that it is under the guidance of FOCAC that China-Africa solidarity and cooperation started in the 1950s have gained greater relevance and strength in the new century. China and Africa have gained tremendous benefits from their cooperation, and more importantly, have built a strong bond of brotherhood.

FOCAC will celebrate its 15th anniversary next year, said Zhang, and China is ready to work with the African side to ensure the success of the sixth FOCAC Ministerial Meeting and "elevate the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership to a higher level."