China on Tuesday promised to train 10,000 African personnel in the next three years to strengthen the cooperation in human resources development between China and Africa. 

"China will, in the next three years, further increase its financial contribution to the African Human Resources Development Fund for the training of up to 10,000 African personnel in different areas," said the action plan adopted by the just-ended Second Ministerial Conference of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum.

The African Human Resources Development Fund was set up by China as a follow-up action of the first conference in 2002 exclusively for African personnel training.

African countries, attaching great importance to stronger cooperation with China in human resources development, have initiated cooperation plans and provided logistic support for training programs and cooperation projects, said the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Addis Ababa Action Plan (2004-2006).

Highlighted by the action-oriented spirit, it is the first ministerial conference of the forum held on the African continent.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, his host counterpart Meles Zenawi and a dozen of African heads of state or government attended the opening ceremony.

Also present are Chinese and African foreign ministers and ministers in charge of international economic cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency December 17, 2003)