"Faced with new opportunities and challenges, it is necessary for China and Algeria, two important developing countries, to further enhance exchanges on all levels, promote closer consultation and coordination in international affairs and deepen friendly cooperation," Zhu said in a written statement upon his arrival.

Zhu said he hoped the visit would contribute to increased ties and a strengthening of trust between the countries.

During the Algiers visit, the Chinese premier will hold separate talks with his counterpart Ali Benflis and President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Algeria is the first stop of a four-nation tour which will also take Zhu to Morocco, Cameroon and South Africa.

He is scheduled to join leaders from other countries at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.

It is Zhu's second visit to Africa in four months -- he went to Egypt and Kenya in April.

Foreign Ministry sources said the latest visit would promote the follow-up actions of the Forum on Sino-African Cooperation, held in Beijing in 2000.

At the forum, China and African countries pledged to work for common prosperity through comprehensive cooperation.

China announced at the time it would cancel or reduce 10 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion) of debts owed by African countries.

Yang Lihua, deputy director of the Institute of West Asian and African Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told China Daily that although closer coordination in the international arena to push for a new world political order was an important dimension in Sino-African ties, there were also economic benefits.

With a population approaching 800 million people, Africa has increasingly attracted Chinese enterprises because of its market potential and rich resources.

Cooperation has already expanded beyond construction in recent years to cover agriculture, human resources and several other sectors.

"Sino-African cooperation will be a mutually beneficial process," Yang said.

"The demands of African countries are met and China will also benefit."

The establishment of the African Union last month in the South African city of Durban has taken Sino-African ties to a new level.

"Sino-African cooperation should adapt itself to fit into the new map of African development," Yang said.

"Investment should follow the principle of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, helping provide more job opportunities for local people and introducing new technology to them."

The African Union, replacing the Organization of African Unity, aims to foster Africa's prosperity and democracy through social, economic and regional integration.

The move is regarded as a milestone in the continent's shift from an emphasis on political unity and cooperation to comprehensive integration covering political, economic and social aspects.

Yang, praising the role of high-level contacts in the promotion of Sino-African ties, also called for more exchanges between enterprises, academics and other non-governmental forces.

"The results of cooperation between China and Africa hinge on their mutual understanding because the two are facing a new stage of developing comprehensive cooperation," he said.

(China Daily August 26, 2002)