Photo shows a signpost pointing to China and Africa. [Photo/Xinhua]

In December 2003, the second ministerial conference of the FOCAC was convened in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, which was attended by leaders and officials from both sides as well as representatives of some international and African regional organizations.

The third ministerial meeting was held on Nov 3, 2006, in Beijing as the final preparation for the Beijing Summit of the FOCAC held on Nov 6, 2006.

At the Beijing summit, the Chinese side announced a package of major assistance, investment, trade and other key cooperation projects with Africa in an effort to forge a new type of strategic partnership and strengthen cooperation in more areas and at a higher level.

The fourth ministerial meeting of the forum, held in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Nov. 8-9, 2009, reviewed the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and the Program for China-Africa Cooperation in Economic and Social Development and the two documents adopted during the first ministerial meeting.

In July 2012, the fifth ministerial conference of FOCAC was held in Beijing with an aim of deepening the new-type China-Africa strategic partnership.

At the opening ceremony, a series of new measures were announced by China in a bid to support Africa's peace and development and promote the new type of strategic partnership, injecting new vigor into the development of China-Africa relations.