ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 27 -- China has a big role to play in Africa's development and the continent is keen on exploring further opportunities for cooperation with the Asian nation, a senior African Union (AU) official said Monday.

Responding to a question from Xinhua during a press conference on the sidelines of the 24th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council, AU Commissioner for Trade and Industry Fatima Haram Acyl said there was huge potential for synergies between the two sides.

Africa, she said, has a lot to learn from China's rapid industrialization and tremendous economic growth over the past three decades.

"Africa has a lot to learn from China. How it managed to industrialize given its huge population. China has a big role to play and we are working closely with the Chinese," she said.

She told Xinhua she was planning to visit the Asian nation soon to discuss industrialization and trade between the two sides.

Africa, Haram Acyl said, is also keen to learn from China about how it can set up its own pharmaceutical plants.

"We want to know how we can produce our own medicine. The know- how is very important," she said.