Wen says China to import more from African nations

China will expand its imports from Africa, which have doubled in the past three years, and will further open the domestic market to African countries, Premier Wen Jiabao said on Wednesday.

Wen made the remarks during a speech at a conference of Chinese and African entrepreneurs. The meeting is affiliated with the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which will start its fifth ministerial conference in Beijing on Thursday.

"We need to promote balanced development of trade between China and Africa. China will expand imports of African products and further open its markets to African countries," the premier said.