Sino-African ties look bright as trade heads toward $200b

Chinese relations with Africa are set to grow next year, with both sides considering upgrading a ministerial-level forum to a leadership summit, a senior Foreign Ministry official said.

Lin Songtian, director-general of the Department of African Affairs, told China Daily on Wednesday that the past year has seen relations develop rapidly.

Both President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang visited Africa in 2014, and 13 African leaders came to China.