Moussa also hailed the idea of developing a new type of African-Chinese strategic partnership, initiated by Chinese President Hu Jintao, saying Hu's proposal was "a recipe for a successful relationship between nations."

    During his visit to Nigeria in April, Hu put forward the proposal when addressing the country's National Assembly in Abuja.

    Hu's proposal contained such key points as strengthening political mutual trust, expanding win-win economic cooperation, increasing cultural interaction, enhancing security cooperation, and maintaining close coordination in international affairs among China and African nations.

    Moussa said President Hu mentioned these points during their talks in Beijing in May when China hosted the second ministerial meeting of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum.

    "Should these guidelines be faithfully and systematically pursued, I believe that African and Arab cooperation with China could make the progress that we hope to achieve," he said.

    Commenting on China-Arab Cooperation Forum, Moussa said much had been achieved since the forum was formed in 2004. "But the potential is huge and we have great ambitions for these relations," he said.

    "The Sino-Arab cooperation is a good example for the South-South cooperation that we have been advocating for so many years," said Moussa.

    FOCAC's Beijing summit is slated for Nov. 3-5, when Chinese and African leaders will review China-Africa friendly relations over the past 50 years, blueprint future cooperation, and exchange views on major international issues.

    According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, President Hu extended invitations to 48 African countries which have diplomatic ties with China, and all these countries have confirmed that they will attend the summit.

    The upcoming summit will be the highest-level and the largest meeting between Chinese and African leaders since China and African countries started to forge cooperative ties in the 1950s. Enditem