Beijing is willing to strengthen cooperation with African countries through the Belt and Road initiative, Xinhua reports.

The Government-run news agency says Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the pledge at the end of his four-nation tour of Africa which included Cape Verde.

The Belt and Road initiative could deliver development and prosperity, Mr Wang said. Beijing would work out cooperation plans for each African country based on their requests to facilitate sustainable development, he added.

The Belt and Road is an infrastructure development initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping to better connect countries in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa.