As the world's largest developing country, China takes consolidating and developing cooperation with other developing countries as a cornerstone of its foreign policy. The SCO, China-ASEAN and Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summits in 2006 led China's relations with developing countries into a new era aimed at cooperation, development, mutual trust, friendship and a harmonious world.

The year 2006 marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Africa diplomatic relations. On January 12, the government for the first time issued China's Africa Policy. In April, President Hu Jintao paid state visits to Morocco, Nigeria and Kenya and put forward five proposals, namely increasing political mutual trust, expanding economic mutual benefit, drawing on each other's cultures, strengthening cooperation in security and collaborating closely in the international community, for building a new type of strategic partnership between China and Africa. Premier Wen Jiabao's formal visits to Egypt, Ghana, Congo-Brazzaville, Angola, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda accomplished the objective of deepening friendship, increasing mutual trust, expanding cooperation and promoting common development. The Second Ministerial Meeting of China-Arab Cooperation Forum was convened in Beijing between May and June. The Summit & Third Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation took place in Beijing in November and received heads of state or government, or representatives of 48 African countries. Under the theme of friendship, peace, cooperation and development, the meeting adopted a declaration proclaiming the establishment of "a new type of strategic partnership" between China and Africa and an action plan for China-Africa cooperation during the period 2007-2009. Chinese President Hu Jintao paid state visits to Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique and Seychelles from January 30 to February 10, 2007. This tour, praised as "Tour of Friendship," "Tour of Cooperation," marked another important event of Sino-Africa relations after the Beijing Summit. 

Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Summit of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, November 4, 2006