VICE Foreign Minister Zhai Jun yesterday stressed raising the quality of the China-Africa trade partnership and projecting responsible images of Chinese corporate culture in Africa.

Zhai made the call at a forum on Chinese businesses in Africa, hosted by the China Public Diplomacy Association and attended by Chinese enterprises, academics and African diplomats in Beijing.

Zhai said China had been Africa's largest trading partner since 2009, and the China-Africa trade volume had skyrocketed from US$10 billion in 2000 to nearly US$200 billion in 2012.

However, he noted "growing pains" in economic and trade cooperation. "Although the volume increased rapidly, there has not been much progress in quality improvement."

Zhai urged Chinese businesses in Africa to work for mutual benefit and common development, saying: "Making quick money and leaving is a myopic action, and 'catching fish by draining the pond' is unethical."