BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- China will take the opportunity of the upcoming meetings of the African Development Bank (ADB) Group to push forward economic and trade cooperation with Africa, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said here Tuesday.

    The 2007 Annual Meetings of the Board of Governors of African Development Bank Group are to be held in Shanghai from May 16 to 17, at which Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will deliver a speech.

    Jiang said the Chinese government supports the holding of this event with an aim to play a positive role in reducing poverty and helping boost development in the African continent.

    "The Chinese government always promotes economic ties with Africa based on sincerity, mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit so as to achieve common development," she said.

    Statistics show that China had invested 11.7 billion U.S. dollars in Africa by the end of 2006. The investment mainly went to infrastructure construction.

    China also plans to help set up 30 hospitals, 100 rural schools, 30 malaria prevention centers and 10 agricultural pilot centers in Africa in the following three years.

    When responding to a question on China-funded Merowe dam in Sudan, Jiang said the project will promote Sudan's social and economic development and improve local people's livelihood.

    China is willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with African countries in environmental protection so as to contribute to the sustainable development of Africa, Jiang said.