Three years since Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined his 'ten major plans' of cooperation for China and Africa, positive results are in. Officials say Africa has become an important emerging destination for new Chinese investment, and that an upcoming summit in Beijing will help further this, and other progress. CGTN's Su Yuting explains.

China has spent the last nine years as Africa's largest trading partner. At a Tuesday press conference, Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Qian Keming said the implementation of cooperation plans has further deepened China-Africa business relations.

QIAN KEMING CHINESE VICE COMMERCE MINISTER "In 2017, trade volume between China and Africa was 170 billion US dollars, up 14 percent year-on-year. In the first six months of this year, trade volume between China and Africa was 98.8 billion US dollars, up 16 percent year-on-year. Over the past three years, China's average direct investment in Africa has remained at about three billion US dollars."

Qian said since President Xi proposed the 'ten major plans' cooperation in 2015 during the FOCAC Johannesburg Summit, trade and economic cooperation have produced good effects.

QIAN KEMING CHINESE VICE COMMERCE MINISTER "China and Africa have strengthened industrial connectivity. Positive progress has been made in a number of key investment projects. Cooperation in the fields of manufacturing, agriculture, finance, tourism and aviation have also made breakthroughs."

The 2018 Beijing Summit and the 7th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will be held in Beijing in early September. Qian says ministers on both sides of the cooperation will discuss ways to continue the positive trends.

QIAN KEMING CHINESE VICE COMMERCE MINISTER "China has undertaken over 20 regional vocational training centers and capacity building academies in Africa. Experts there will train over 200,000 professionals in various fields locally, and over 40,000 African officials and technicians in China by the end of this year."

SU YUTING BEIJING "Vice Minister of Commerce Qian Keming said the implementation of the ten cooperation plans has brought sustainable benefits to the development of Africa. It has helped African countries reduce poverty and improve people's livelihood, enhance business environment and speed up industrialization. At the same time, Qian said more Chinese products, technologies and services have found their way to Africa, and that has powered China's own development as well. He said the China-Africa economic and trade relations are expected to be strengthened during the upcoming FOCAC Beijing Summit. Su Yuting, CGTN, Beijing."