China will set the future direction of its ties with Africa at a multinational forum in Egypt this month, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi was quoted as saying on Sunday.

Premier Wen Jiabao plans to attend the Nov. 8-9 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Yang said in an interview with the official Xinhua News Agency.

No details were given, but at the last forum in 2006, China pledged to double assistance to Africa by 2009, provide $5 billion in preferential loans and credits, cancel debts and establish a $5 billion fund to encourage Chinese investment.

Yang said those goals had all been met, while the upcoming meeting marks "another important occasion to boost China-Africa friendship and cooperation."

Elsewhere in the interview, Yang said China would "continue to fulfill its due international obligation and responsibility and continue to contribute to the economic and social development of Africa."


Agencies