South-South cooperation should be promoted to offset the impact of the recent economic downturn, which has adversely affected developing countries, officials said on Saturday.

Edward Clarence-Smith, representative and director at the UN Industrial Development Organization regional office in Beijing, said China has been growing extremely fast in recent years, and the focus is now on how China can assist and support other developing countries in their efforts to develop economically.

His remarks came during the conference on promoting South-South Cooperation Through Multilateral Mechanisms: New Perspectives for Trade, Investment and Technical Exchanges, hosted by UNIDO, the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchange, and the Fujian provincial department of foreign trade and economic cooperation during the ongoing 16th China International Fair For Investment and Trade.

"China has solid experience with economic development, which could be shared with other developing countries, and there are many Chinese entrepreneurs who want to invest in other developing countries," Clarence-Smith added.

Han Bo, vice-president of the South-South Global Assets and Technology Exchange Center, said the company will provide a platform and support for small and medium-sized Chinese enterprises looking to invest in Africa.

Zhao Yongli, deputy director of China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchange, said China will continue to strengthen South-South cooperation, promote multinational ties and do whatever possible to help African countries.

Zhao said China is Africa's biggest trading partner, and the continent has become China's fourth-biggest investment destination.

To strengthen South-South cooperation between China and Africa in new energy and agriculture, the economic and technical exchange center's director Yao Shenhong headed a Chinese delegation to Botswana, Kenya and Ethiopia from July 24 to Aug 4.

During the visit, the Chinese delegation called on the UN Development Programme residential office in Botswana on Aug 2 local time. Anders Pedersen, the UN Coordinator in Botswana greeted the delegation, and the two sides exchanged views on South-South energy and agricultural cooperation. Ma Lianxing, commercial councilor of the Chinese Embassy to Botswana and other staff of the embassy participated in the talks.

In order to strengthen exchanges in food industry, the International Conference on Sino-African Food Cooperation was also held in Beijing.

During the conference, Zhao said that China, as a major developing country, has been advocating South-South cooperation. Cooperation in the food industry plays an important role in these partnerships.

To meet the challenges of global food safety, developing countries should strengthen exchanges and cooperation in food industry policies and the formulation of regulations as well as information sharing, food processing, food safety management and supervision, and increasing public education efforts to raise public awareness.

baochang@chinadaily.com.cn