African leaders called for more cultural communication between the two sides to promote the Sino-African strategic relationship at the 2012 China-Africa People's Forum in Suzhou.

"Since the new China was set up in the middle of the last century, the relationship between China and Africa has systematically improved," said Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria.

China and Africa enjoy a "time-honored friendship," which besides economic and trade relations, includes "successful cooperation in other areas like infrastructure construction, agriculture, health care, education, and human resource development," Chinese vice president Xi Jinping said in the keynote address at the forum's opening ceremony.

In the area of culture exchange, Mr. Obasanjo took language and education as examples. "There are some Chinese teaching programs in Nigerian schools where our children can learn Chinese language and culture, and we also have Chinese culture centers in the country," he said, while adding, "I think we should also provide some opportunities to encourage more Chinese people feel and experience the splendid culture of Africa."

Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, former president of Ghana, also said he thought education cooperation between China and Africa was beneficial for African youth. "I believe our youth should support and appreciate the cooperation and scholarship from China, so that they can come to China to receive higher education. And then when they come back their countries after studying, they will make greater contribution to their homeland."

He also emphasized that in order to improve people-to-people exchange between the two sides more deeply and constantly, the governments of the two sides should make a big push to promote cultural communication, including oversea students programs, music performance and folk art exchanges.

"I have always seen the relationship between two countries or regions as the relationship between two lovers," said Mr. Obasanjo at the end of the interview, "Constant [communications] between each side will make the relationship strong. That's what we are doing here, and what we will always do."