China and Africa celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing Monday, outlining future efforts for greater development of the new type of strategic partnership.

Addressing a reception marking the anniversary, Jia Qinglin, top Chinese political advisor, thanked all those who have contributed to the development of FOCAC, a platform for dialogue and pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa launched in October 2000.

Hailing the establishment of the forum as a strategic decision by Chinese and African leaders, Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said the mechanism of the forum has gradually improved and borne growing significance over the last decade.

China and Africa have enjoyed increasingly frequent high-level exchanges, mutual political trust and trade relations. "China and Africa have come closer together. Our links have become stronger and our friendship has grown deeper. The relationship is now at a new historical starting point," said Jia.

Jia mentioned the recently concluded fifth plenary session of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which reviewed and adopted the proposal for formulating the 12th five-year plan on national economic and social development.

The meeting also gives direction to China's relations with Africa, Jia said.