Chinese Premier Li Keqiang praised Africa's growing economic power on Monday and Beijing's "iron-clad" friendship with the continent, as he vowed to double trade to $400 billion by 2020.
"It is one of the fastest growing regions in the world, and a bright spot in a gloomy global economy under the impact of the international financial crisis," Li said in a keynote speech, adding that China aimed to increase direct investment to $100 billion by the end of the decade.
Africa "is an important emerging market on a global scale," he added, speaking at the Chinese-built headquarters of the African Union (AU) in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
Li, who arrived in Ethiopia on Sunday, is scheduled to also visit Nigeria, Angola and Kenya during the week-long trip.
Shrugging off criticism from those who have at times criticized China's role in Africa as exploitative, Li stressed that Beijing wanted an "equal" relationship with the continent.
"Against a backdrop of the simultaneous rise of developing countries, the world needs to heed what Africa has got to say, and Africa's role needs to be respected by all parties," Li added.
AU chairman, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, praised a "robust political interaction" between the continent and China, and said trade was "increasingly bringing our people closer to each other."
"The trade exchange between Africa and China is at a record high of more than 200 billion dollars, further consolidating China's position as Africa's largest trading partner," he said.
"Chinese foreign direct investment in Africa has also grown by leaps and bounds. Particularly we are pleased to note the steady increase of Chinese investment in the manufacturing sector, which has the potential of transforming Africa into a new manufacturing hub."
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