China has pledged to give Africa $10bn (£6bn) in concessional loans over the next three years, Chinese Premier¹ Wen Jiabao has said at a summit in Egypt.

中国总理温家宝在埃及峰会上宣布，中国未来三年内会向非洲提供100亿美元特惠贷款。

China has cultivated strong economic ties with Africa

The Chinese leader is attending a two-day forum² on China-Africa cooperation in Sharm el-Sheikh, attended by officials from 50 nations.

"We will help Africa build up financing capacity," Mr Wen told the summit.

Several heads of state and government are attending the meeting, including the Presidents of Sudan and Zimbabwe.

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak inaugurated（开创，举行） the forum, the fourth of its kind, and spoke³ of "peace, security and growth," and of "boosting cooperation between China and Africa."

Mr Wen also said China is planning to create environmental programmes for Africa, including 100 clean energy projects.

The West has previously⁴ accused China of plundering⁵（掠夺，抢夺） Africa's natural resources - to fuel its booming economy - and of overlooking the human rights records of some governments they do business with.

In the run up to the summit, China's state owned Global Times newspaper wrote "The West is envious⁶ of China and Africa drawing closer," and quoted one Chinese Africa expert as saying "Europeans view Africa as their own backyard."

China pledged $5bn (£3bn) of assistance at the last cooperation summit in Beijing in 2006, and signed agreements to relieve（减轻，解除） or cancel the debt of more than 30 African countries.