BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Progress has been made in implementing the results of the 2006 Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), according to a Chinese senior official.

    At the summit, FOCAC members agreed to establish a "new type of strategic partnership" between China and Africa based on the principles of "equality, mutual benefit and learning from each other." In addition, a comprehensive short-term plan was drawn up to boost practical cooperation.

    "The progress made in carrying out the consensus realized at the Beijing summit pushes forward the China-Africa friendship," XuJinghu, director-general of the Department of African Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. She made the remark when talking about the upcoming sixth senior officials meeting of the forum in Egypt that she would attend.

    Xu, also secretary-general of the Secretariat of the Chinese Follow-up Committee of the Forum, said the progress was embodied in aspects such as the two sides closer high-level contacts, more support and coordination when dealing with international affairs, common efforts to safeguard the interests of developing countries, implementation in eight measures for China-Africa practical cooperation and economic and trade cooperation.

    The FOCAC is a collective dialogue and cooperation mechanism established by China and several African countries in 2000. The 2006 summit marked the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of diplomatic ties between China and African countries.

    The sixth senior officials meeting is on Oct.18-19 in Cairo.