A Beijing Declaration and action plan will be published by the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-African Cooperation to expand the current bilateral collaboration to more areas, a senior Chinese diplomat has said.

President Hu Jintao will announce new measures at the conference to strengthen China's investment in infrastructure projects and financial corporation with African countries, said Lu Shaye, director-general of the department of African affairs of the Foreign Ministry.

"Transnational projects are a new area that China needs to further develop in its cooperation with Africa," he said at a press conference a day before the opening of the forum.

"Although no specific project will be discussed at this conference, China will show its strong support for Africa's integration and communication within the continent.

"African countries support the internationalization of the Chinese currency yuan, but they have the right to choose whether or not to use their own currency in trade and business with China based on the principle of equality," he said.

Lu said the conference will review issues such as helping African countries to industrialize, and manufacture and produce more high-value products.

"Since Africa is in the early stages of industrialization and China's economic structure is in transition, conditions on both sides are complementary," he said.

Regional peace and security will also be discussed in the meetings. Lu said China will always support Africa using its own methods and efforts to solve regional conflicts while the international community should provide positive assistance.

He also said there is no policy in China to export low-end products of sub-standard quality to Africa intentionally. Reasons for this occurring are complicated and include poor customs inspections in both China and Africa, market demand and the actions of some untrustworthy businessmen.

"The outcome of this conference will show that China will help African countries improve their customs inspections," Lu said.

Lu said issues including the safety of China's investment and the Chinese community in Africa, and isolated cases of abuse of local workers by some Chinese companies, will not be specifically discussed at this conference.

lilianxing@chinadaily.com.cn