China to deepen service sector co-op with Africa

BEIJING - China will further deepen cooperation with Africa in the service trade and infrastructure sector, vice minister of commerce Li Jinzao said Tuesday.

The country also plans to expand its investment in Africa in the sectors of finance, tourism, aviation and power generation, Li said at the ongoing Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services.

Li's statement came after Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday called for increased opening up in the country's service sector and encouraged local service providers to go global to boost the industry's share in foreign trade.

According to Li, Africa has become a major investment destination for Chinese enterprises, where over 2,000 Chinese companies have invested in various sectors ranging from electronics, telecommunication to transport.