Chinese Vice-premier Liu Yandong has called for greater Sino-African efforts to improve the health of Africans, Xinhua reports.

The Chinese government-run news agency says Ms Liu made the call at the China-Africa Ministerial Conference on Health Co-operation, held in Pretoria, which was attended by the health ministers of China and 31 African countries.

The report quotes Ms Liu as saying healthcare should be made more accessible in Africa, and preventive public health measures strengthened.

She called for the enhancement of the provision of healthcare for African women and children, and greater communication among ordinary people about health matters, Xinhua says.