China hoped to increase cooperation with Africa in women's affairs, said the president of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) on Wednesday.

President Chen Zhili, also vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, made the remarks when meeting with representatives of political parties and women's organizations from 10 African nations, who were here for an information seminar.

Chen said the seminar, as an embodiment of Sino-African friendship and cooperation, was of important significance for China and Africa to increase exchanges and cooperation among political parties and in women's affairs.

The seminar would help cement traditional friendship and promote pragmatic cooperation between the two sides, she noted.

She hoped that Chinese and African women would deepen their understanding and cooperation, in a bid to push forward the Sino-African new type of strategic partnership.

The seminar, jointly sponsored by the ACWF and the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, would be held here from November 10 to 20.

A total of 19 representatives from 10 African nations, namely, Cameroun, Congo, Djibouti, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mauritius, Togo and Tunisia, would exchange views during the seminar on women's participation into the economic and social development cause.

(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2008)