BEIJING, Jan. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Resources cooperation between China and Africa will help Africa to realize sustainable development, Chinese experts on African studies told Xinhua in recent interviews.

    In a policy paper aimed at strengthening its ties with Africa, China is working to explore the prospect of Sino-African cooperation in 30 concrete fields.

    In China's first-ever African Policy Paper released here Thursday, China highlighted its readiness to facilitate information sharing and cooperation with Africa in resources development.

    "To translate Africa's advantages in resources to competitive strength, and to realize sustainable development in Africa is our aim in the resources cooperation," said Wang Yingying, a researcher on African studies with the China Institute of International Studies.

    Despite their remarkable economic growth in recent years, African countries are still vulnerable in their economy as the majority of their exports are unprocessed raw materials, Wang said.

    China has helped African countries build processing factories and provided technical and management training courses in a bid toincrease the added value of their exported commodities, thus increasing the competitiveness of their products.

    The Chinese government encourages and supports competent Chinese enterprises to cooperate with African nations in developing and exploiting rationally their resources.

    "While the Chinese enterprises are involved in resources exploitation in Africa, they contribute to the continent's development at the same time," Wang said.

    Elaborating her viewpoint, she said that China refunds the profits it has earned by reinvesting in infrastructure construction such as building power stations.

    "The investment has brought real benefits to people in Africa and the continent as a whole," the researcher said.

    "Unlike some western countries, China's cooperation with African countries is based on boosting sustainable development in Africa," Wang said.

    While developing oil, iron ore and mineral resources in Africa,China pays much attention to protection of local environment, she said, adding, "We also help train personnel in various fields in an effort to guarantee sustainable development in Africa."

    An Yongyu, president of the China Society for African Studies, said China sticks to a policy of sustainable development. Consequently, it lays stress on sustainable reproduction of resources in its cooperation with African countries.

    For example, An said, when exploiting forest resources in Gabon,China adopted a method of planting saplings at the same time to make it renewable.

    Currently, many African-made products are sold "cheaply" due totheir unfavorable position on the world market, causing huge losses to these countries.

    In energy cooperation with African countries, China purchased their products at a reasonable price in international market in stead of forcing prices down, said An, who used to serve as formerChinese ambassador to several African countries.

    "These examples show that China does attach importance to sustainable development in Africa," An said. Enditem