LUSAKA, Nov. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- China will work hand in hand with Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to help countries on the continent in their efforts to seek development and prosperity, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Baodong said here Thursday.

    "In the past, China was a reliable friend to African people in their courses for independence. Today, China has also become a close partner with Africa on its journey for development and prosperity," Li, who is also Special Representative to COMESA, said when handing over credential to Erastus Mwencha, Secretary General of COMESA which is headquartered in the capital Lusaka, Zambia.

    Li said Africa is now facing a lot of challenges and problems such as hunger, illiteracy and HIV/AIDS which are hindering the development of the continent. These problems, he said, can only beaddressed with international cooperation and western countries should do more and put practical actions in place to help solve these problems.

    He also called for stronger involvement of the group in the process of regional economic integration.

    "As one of the largest regional economic group, COMESA should get more involved in the regional economic integration and it has great potential to do so in the future," Li said.

    He said China attached great importance to the cooperation withAfrica and was committed to Africa's development and prosperity.

    Mwencha commended China for its assistance in the development of Africa's economy, saying trade between COMESA and China is growing fast.

    "When you look at the relationship between Africa and China, it's significant and instructive to know that trade volume between COMESA and China has reached 30 billion US dollars and it is growing," said Mwencha.

    He said Zambia, which is the fourth largest copper producer in the world, benefited a lot as the copper prices in the international market were boosted thanks to the increasing demand from China, which is also an indication of China's economic strength.

    He further noted that China and Africa had established cooperation in areas such as telecommunication and construction.

    "We are already in the business and I believe that we can do a lot more in the future," he said.

    He also noted that Li's designation as the Special Representative to COMESA provided a chance for its organization tohave discussion with China on issues of cooperation in economic and social areas.

    Comprising 20 African states with a population of about 385 million, COMESA launched in 2000 the first African Free Trade Areawhich currently is made of 11 members. And the biggest economic bloc in Africa is scheduled to launch a Customs Union in 2008. Enditem