ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- African officials have acclaimed the partnership forged between China and Africa, whereby the African continent is being benefited in terms of social and economic development.

Speaking to Xinhua, officials at the African Union (AU) said the Sino-Africa partnership is ever growing with significant results.

China is contributing greatly to the economic development in Africa, said Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture.

"Almost all countries in Africa, the presence of China is enormous in each and every member state of the African Union, which is something commendable," she said.

As the interview was being conducted at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the commissioner said, "We are standing in a complex (AU complex), which was donated by the Chinese government. This is very, very much appreciated and we know that the leaders of Africa are happy with China."

"When you go to the member states, you find that apart from the loans, the investments, you find that there are many, many initiatives supported, even in terms of grants by China. So, Africa is benefiting in terms of economic development from China and the partnership we have with China is really building and yielding results," she noted.

Stating that there are success stories in Africa's agriculture in cooperation with China, the official underlined the need to further strengthen the partnership in the sector by sharing experiences and adapting Chinese technologies to African situation.

"We see China as being a useful partner in the development of the agriculture sector. China has got a very diverse kind of economy; the agriculture sector has been developed using modern technologies. And we would like to see, as in Africa, getting these technologies to adapt to the African condition," said the commissioner.

Fantahun Haile-Michael, AU Project Coordinator, on his part said the Chinese development cooperation with Africa is growing day by day with the focus on Africa's priority areas of peace and security; infrastructure development and education and health sectors of social area among others.

China is cooperating with Africa, giving a prior attention to the continent's infrastructural development, without which there cannot be a meaningful economic and social development, said Fantahun.

He further said China is also allocating each year considerable amount of credit line for development on the African continent.

He said China is helping African countries to establish a free economic zone.

"A free economic zone is mainly targeted towards export orientation industrial zone; and China is also helping African countries to transform their economies from agricultural base to industrial base. So, China, in this regard, is also providing the necessary technical and financial support to establish industrial zones, for instance, like here in Ethiopia is one of good cases," noted the official.

Fantahun further stated that China is providing support to Africa's human resource development, where by China offers short and long-term training and also scholarship to African students.

On the health sector, China is training thousands of medical personnel on short-term and long-term basis in China while supporting Africa's health and medical services in a number of African countries, he noted.

"Currently, China is one of the leading countries supporting African efforts in the fighting Ebola in West Africa, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea," he said.

He noted that China is also now coming to support Africa in establishing a disease control center.

"What impacts do they have definitely, for the last 10 years, China is the main investors on the continent of Africa; in terms of trade which is over 200 billion dollars between China and Africa, a two-way trade. In term of credit line, China is a single country to provide one of the biggest loan and credit to Africa's efforts. And China is also tapping areas where African countries want to enhance and develop like infrastructure and others."

"Because of these China is creating opportunity for thousands and thousands of Africa's job opportunities; and Africa has increased its volume of export to a number of countries. Africa for the last 10 years has increased its foreign currency earnings and Africa has increased its developmental skill at national level. So, the impact is very, very significant and which can be seen."

"Today, as a result of that like China, India, Turkey and European Union, because of all these contributions, particularly that of Chinese support, Africa is now becoming one of the fastest growing continents in the world. And it is becoming what we call a growth pole; and this is true that out of 10 fast growing countries in the world, 7 of them are in Africa including Ethiopia. So, the impact of China's support to Africa development is very clear and very significant," he said.

"African countries are very much appreciative and thankful to the government of China for such a wonderful partnership," he said.