China's president pledged to double aid to Africa at a conference with dozens of African leaders on Saturday as Beijing tries to build ties in a search for oil sources and export markets, the Associated Press reported. "Without combined development between China and Africa, there will be no global peace and development," President Hu Jintao said in a speech to the conference's opening session at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, the seat of China's parliament. "Dear friends, let's join hands and endeavor to promote development in both China and Africa, improve the well-being of our peoples and build a harmonious world," Hu said. The two-day conference includes heads of state from 35 of the 53 African nations and top officials from 13 others -- one of the largest such gatherings in history. Chinese-African trade grew to nearly US$40 billion last year, ten times the 1995 level, according to the Chinese government. China's state oil companies are expanding in Africa, signing deals in Nigeria, Angola, Sudan and elsewhere. Manufacturers are trying to expand exports to African markets. Hu said Beijing will double aid to African countries from its 2006 level by 2009. China will provide US$3 billion in preferential loans and US$2 billion of export credits over the next three years, while creating a US$5 billion fund to encourage Chinese investment in Africa, Hu said. He said Beijing will forgive the poorest African countries' debts to the Chinese government and increase the number of categories of their exports that receive tariff-free import status. China will train 15,000 African professionals, build schools, hospitals and anti-malaria clinics and send agriculture experts and youth volunteers to Africa, Hu said. He said China would double the number of scholarships given to African students to 4,000 by 2009.
