BEIJING -- Chinese President Hu Jintao's eight-nation African tour was a great success in promoting friendly and cooperative ties between China and Africa, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said on Saturday.

It was a journey of friendship and cooperation and another major event in Sino-African relations following the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) last November, Li told Chinese journalists accompanying Hu during his African trip.

The huge success of President Hu's African tour will have a far-reaching influence on the future development of relations between China and Africa, Li said.

The trip, which began on January 30, has taken the Chinese president to Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique and Seychelles.

CHINA SEEKS FRIENDSHIP FOR GENERATIONS WITH AFRICA

Li said the China-Africa friendship is deep-rooted and forged in years of mutual support.

It is symbolized by Tazara, a railway linking the land-locked Zambia with a port in Tanzania in the 1970s. It is reflected in warm feelings between Chinese medical teams in Africa and their patients. It is embodied by African nations' steadfast support for the restoration of China's legal rights in the United Nations.

The entire trip was characterized by the sincere friendship between China and Africa, Li added.

The Chinese leader pointed out on many occasions that the Chinese people will always remain a good friend, good partner and good brother of the African people, said the foreign minister.

President Hu also promised that the Chinese people will never impose its ideology, social system or mode of development on others and will never do anything detrimental to the African people and their countries. His remarks invariably drew warm applause from the audience, said China's top diplomat.

President Hu's successful African tour shows people are fully convinced that the China-Africa friendship will be passed on from one generation to another, according to the Chinese minister.

IMPLEMENTING BEIJING SUMMIT OUTCOME, BENEFITING AFRICAN PEOPLE

During his African visit, President Hu briefed African leaders on China's efforts to carry out the eight steps unveiled during the FOCAC.

The measures will be carried out in accordance with the principles of mutual benefit, friendly consultations, high efficiency and pragmatism, the Chinese president said, adding that they must cater to the needs of the African people.

During the trip, more than 50 cooperation agreements were signed, most of them involving ways of implementing the outcome of the FOCAC, the Chinese minister said.

The eight steps include China's pledge to double its assistance to Africa by 2009. China will provide 3 billion U.S. dollars of preferential loans and 2 billion dollars of preferential buyer's credits to Africa. China will also establish a development fund of 5 billion dollars to encourage Chinese firms to invest in Africa. Debt cancellation is among other major steps.

NEW TYPE OF CHINA-AFRICA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE

At the the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Chinese and African leaders unanimously agreed to forge and develop a new type of China-Africa strategic partnership featuring political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchanges, Li said.

During his African tour, President Hu and African leaders jointly laid out plans for future development of China-Africa relations.

Hu said China will adhere to the principles of sincere friendship, equality and mutual benefit, solidarity and cooperation, and common development.

China will join hands with Africa in seriously implementing the outcome and consensus reached at the Beijing summit, enhancing political mutual trust, expanding economic and trade cooperation, strengthening personnel and cultural exchanges, and deepening cooperation in international affairs, so as to push the development of China-Africa relations to a higher level and wider scope, Hu said.

Hu proposed that China and Africa should enhance exchanges, promote common development, jointly safeguard the interests of the developing countries and strive to build a harmonious world of lasting peace and prosperity, according to Li.

African leaders spoke highly of China's Africa policy, hailing it as "a new practice in international cooperation," and a model for cooperation between different nations, said Li.

African leaders agreed to President Hu Jintao's proposals for developing China-Africa relations. They said that strengthening relations with China is a strategic choice for Africa and serves the fundamental interests of the African people, according to Li.

China and Africa have reached wide-ranging consensus on strengthening all-round friendly cooperation and promoting a new type of China-Africa strategic partnership, said Li.

He quoted President Hu as saying in South Africa that the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership will surely have a bright future, through joint efforts of China and Africa.

African leaders spoke highly of President Hu's African tour, calling it a "historic visit" and "a milestone" in bilateral relations between their countries and China, according to Li.

The visit has achieved the goals of cementing the traditional China-Africa friendship, implementing the outcome of the Beijing summit, expanding pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa, and promoting common development, Li said.

It is an important chapter in the history of China-Africa relations, he said.