US seeking to boost co-op with China in Africa

WASHINGTON - The United States has been seeking to boost cooperation with China in addressing long-term development challenges facing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the State Department said on Friday.

Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell was responding to the announcement by Chinese President Hu Jintao a day earlier that China would provide $20 billion in credit to African countries to assist them in developing infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing and small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Hu made the pledge while addressing the opening ceremony of the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing.

"We did see that announcement and, as you know, China and Africa are increasingly engaging economically and in other areas," Ventrell told reporters at a regular news briefing, noting "We routinely discuss with the Chinese government ways that we can increase cooperation between our two governments to address long-term development challenges facing many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa."

"So we continue that dialogue with our Chinese counterparts," he added.

The White House unveiled a new strategy toward sub-Saharan Africa last month, as President Barack Obama predicted an Africa " to be the world's next major economic success story."

The new strategy sets forth four strategic objectives in the region -- strengthen democratic institutions, spur economic growth, trade and investment, advance peace and security, and promote opportunity and development.