VICTORIA FALLS, Zimbabwe, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed said on Tuesday that China's development experience over the past decades offers key lessons to Africa.

Mohammed was speaking at the sixth African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development currently underway in the resort town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

The forum, organized in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), is being held to review Africa's progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"Just as China's remarkable achievements in lifting its people out of poverty contributed to major advances under the Millennium Development Goals, so can Agenda 2063 have similar impact on the SDGs," she said.

Agenda 2063 is Africa's strategic framework that aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development.

Mohammed said there have been considerable gains in health outcomes in Africa, with less women and children dying in childbirth or because of diseases in the past few years.

"Africa has made progress in the quest for peace and security, mostly by strengthening continental response frameworks and institutions, as well as by working with the United Nations and other organizations on the ground to secure inclusive transitions," she said.

Despite early progress Africa has made so far, there is still need for more enhanced action, Mohammed said.

She said the number of people living in poverty in Africa has been increasing since 2013, due in part to high population growth rates.

"Africa also has the highest prevalence of hunger, with 22.8 million people severely food insecure; many of whom go to bed hungry," said Mohammed, adding that income inequality and youth unemployment rate were also high.