The search for Chinese partners will be launched at the first forum on Chinese investment in Africa, to be held in May in Beijing.

The municipal government of Douala, the"economic capital" of Cameroon, would be seeking investors for the construction project, said Steven Shi, China area chief expert of the International Managers Union.

Participants at the forum would include senior government officials from China and Africa, African diplomats and about 200 representatives from major Chinese companies, said Shi on Wednesday.

The African delegates would outline a dozen projects, concerning communications, energy, and minerals, directly to potential Chinese partners, Shi said.

Figures from China's Ministry of Commerce show Sino-African trade has tripled in the past five years to reach 39.7 billion US dollars in 2005, up 37 percent over the previous year.

The Chinese government is encouraging companies to invest in Africa, which already boasts more than 600 companies with Chinese investment. Enditem