The partnership features political mutual trust, win-win economic cooperation and cultural exchanges, said Liu Yunshan, a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and a member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat, at a meeting with 17 press officials from 16 African countries, who are here to attend a two-week seminar.

This is the third seminar hosted by the Information Office of China's State Council for African press officials. The first two were held respectively in 2004 and 2005.

China issued its African policy paper in January this year, expounding China's commitment to developing a new Sino-African strategic partnership under today's circumstances.

Liu, also head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, pointed to the increasing press exchanges and cooperation between China and African countries that have enhanced mutual understanding.

He said he hoped the African press officials would convey their experiences in China to the African people as well as Chinese people's friendship.

Representatives of the African officials spoke highly of China's vigorous development and said they hoped to further explore bilateral press cooperation with the Chinese side.

Ethiopian Minister of Information Berhan Hailu said the seminar was "very fruitful", and they have learned much about the reality of China through their experiences here that is quite different from what they had imagined before coming.

He said they also understood more about China's efforts to ensure that every Chinese benefits from the country's development.

China's efforts to help African countries and to strengthen Africa-China cooperation have made a deep impression on him, said the minister.

He said he is convinced that the current visit is "interesting, fruitful and beneficial to all of us", and it will help promote Africa-China cooperation in various aspects.

Lius Covane from the Mozambican Ministry of Education and Culture said he hoped that African countries will learn from China's experiences in improving people's livelihood.

Dominic Lamin from the Sierra Leone Information Ministry said African people hear more about China from negative reports by western media and he will tell African people about "the development that is taking place in China" and China's "economic miracle".

During the seminar, which began on August 13, the African officials visited booming Shenzhen City in south China, scenic Guizhou province in southwest China, and China's capital city of Beijing.