SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Declaration of Sharm el-Sheikh and Sharm el-Sheikh Action Plan were adopted in the fourth ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) here Monday, defining new programs of cooperation between the two sides in the next three years.

    The Declaration of Sharm el-Sheikh of the FOCAC, the political document of the conference, sets forth the guiding principles of China-Africa cooperation, reflects the views and consensus of both sides on major international and regional issues and China-Africa relations, and expresses the hope to strengthen China-Africa cooperation under the new circumstances.

    The adopted FOCAC Sharm el-Sheikh Action Plan (2010-2012) puts forward the guidelines, main objectives and specific measures for China-Africa cooperation in priority areas in the next three years.

    The Action Plan stresses maintaining high-level exchanges between China and African countries and promoting regional peace and security, stating China's position on strengthening cooperation with regional and sub-regional organizations in Africa.

    The plan stresses that the two sides will strengthen coordination and cooperation in the international financial crisis, climate change, reform of the international system, the Millennium Development Goals and the Doha round negotiations.

    The Chinese side has made specific new commitments on setting up agricultural technology demonstration centers, opening market, providing preferential loans and establishing a special loan for African small and medium-sized enterprises, the document says.

    The main objective is to help African countries enhance capacity for sustainable development, it added.

    China has decided to give African countries assistance in clean-energy projects, increase Chinese government scholarships, provide assistance to more schools, train more people for Africa, further cancel or reduce debts owed by African countries, launch the China-Africa Science and Technology Partnership Plan, and provide medical equipments and material assistance to Africa, according to the plan.

    These measures are meant to help tackle the serious challenge of climate change and at the same time improve people's livelihood in Africa.

    The Chinese side has also proposed the launching of a China-Africa joint research and exchange plan with the purpose of strengthening academic exchanges and cooperation.

    The fifth Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC will be held in China in 2012, according to the Action Plan.

    The two documents have been adopted after many rounds of consultations between the two sides, which reflected the collective wisdom and common vision in developing China-Africa relations, said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in the closing ceremony of the ministerial meeting.

Special report: Wen visits Egypt, attends China-Africa forum