Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu Thursday put forward proposals to step up agricultural cooperation with Africa.

Addressing the closing ceremony of a China-Africa agriculture forum, Hui proposed enhanced exchanges among agricultural departments, improved Sino-African agricultural cooperation mechanisms, and high-profile talks to set out the methods, key areas and plans for cooperation.

He called for strengthened agricultural technological cooperation, an expansion of trade in primary products and more cooperation among agricultural enterprises.

"The Chinese government will continue to send agricultural experts and technicians to African countries to help spread and apply advanced agricultural technology," Hui said.

China would also host agricultural experts and students from African countries for education or training, he added.

Hui called for greater trade in primary products, and the provision of information and conveniences in holding agricultural exhibitions and sales promotion activities.

Hui urged the two sides to take further steps to create favorable conditions for cooperation and investment for enterprises.

The forum, which opened Wednesday, gathered about 400 representatives from political parties, government departments and enterprises from China and Africa. A series of agreements on agricultural cooperation are expected to be signed later Thursday.

Jointly organized by the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Ministry of Agriculture, the forum focuses on new opportunities and challenges for China-Africa agricultural cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2010)