For 10 years, the China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE), China's premier NGO network, has been coordinating the work of Chinese NGOs in Africa quietly and without any fuss.

"Africa is the emphasis of our activities," Shi Guohui, CNIE Deputy Secretary General, told a group of African journalists touring Beijing in September.

"What we do for the welfare of people in Africa is not about our interests. It is actually an exchange of friendship, philosophy and ideas."

A non-profit social organization, CNIE comprises Chinese national NGOs, institutions, and personalities involved in research, healthcare, environmental conservation, education, poverty alleviation and other charity work.

Of its 45 member organizations, 25 have consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council.

Chinese NGOs have constructed wells in South Sudan and Kenya, refurbished classrooms, donated anti-malarial injection vials in Kenya, run free eye surgeries in Malawi and Zimbabwe, and held traditional health clinics in South Africa.

In a world where NGOs from the West often trumpet their work in Africa, why are Chinese humanitarians shy of telling people what they are doing?

"That is basic Chinese policy. Some experts believe we should change this but that may make us like colonists," said Professor Guan Guihai, an international relations scholar at Peking University in Beijing.

He told the African reporters that the idea of changing into vocal activists on African soil puts China in a "very difficult situation."

Like Western NGOs, Chinese organizations working in Africa are of three categories: those doing social work, non-profit private institutions, and foundations or funds.

Shi admitted there was some suspicion about CNIE "because we don't act like them [Western NGOs]."

Chinese NGOs' foray into Africa wasn't remarkable until 2006 when the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation at its Beijing Summit advocated the "development of a new type of China-Africa strategic partnership."

In 2011, CNIE and Kenya's NGOs Coordination Board organized a conference that resulted in the Nairobi Declaration. The main points of the document were enhancing people-to-people friendship, pragmatic friendship and promoting world peace.

CNIE members often choose to work with recognized authorities to ensure maximum benefit for the people.

"We operate from the perspective that all activities are to be in the interest of the people, not to oppose or to undermine the government or work for undesirable goals. We work with governments to ensure these projects are supported," Shi said.

But this does not mean CNIE disregards accountability. It does what Guan called "extensive background checks" before engaging with countries or organizations to run its projects.

Shi said while looking for new projects CNIE involves the Chinese business organizations on the ground since they know where the projects are needed most.

"After a project is commissioned, we ask local organizations to report regularly on the progress, often in multimedia format, together with testimonies from beneficiaries. So far we have had no complaints but we need to pay closer attention to ensure [these projects] benefit the people," Shi said.

(Reporting from Beijing)