BEIJING, Nov. 10(Xinhuanet)-- China waltzed up a new round of diplomatic manoeuvring with African countries as senior Chinese leaders are to kick out simultaneous visits to the continent later November.

Two of the 9-membered leadership of China will pay goodwill visits to eight African countries respectively in the next two weeks.

Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju is to visit Tunis, Guinea, Botswana and Madagascar from Nov. 14 to 24.

Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China(CPC) Central Committee, will go to Sudan, Namibia, South Africa and Tanzania. At the interlude of his round-the-continent trip, Li will also pass through Egypt and Zimbabwe.

"The CPC and Chinese government have always affixed prodigious moment to the inveterate friendly relations with Africa," said Li Liqing, director-general of Bureau of African Affairs under the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

Li, a veteran expert of African affairs, said in recent years that China has scaled up efforts to buttress its relations with Africa. She said the high-profile visits constitute part of China's efforts to strengthen political links with African countries.

Six of the nine top Chinese leaders have visited or are to visit Africa. Meanwhile, the heads of state and government leaders of more than 20 African countries have visited China in the past two years.

Since Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Africa in January 2004, Sino-African relations have ushered in a new era of multi-level, multi-dimension growth, Li said.

China and African countries are natural friends as they incurred similar suffering under Western power colonial rule. In the early 1960s, late Premier Zhou Enlai became the first Chinese leader to set foot on the African continent. The peaceful coexistence principles that Zhou advocated have become the bedrock of Sino-African relations. More than four decades later, President Hu reiterated China's adherence to these principles during his Africa trip, emphasizing respect of the independent choice of African countries on political and development patterns.

Moreover, after the end of the Cold War, China has added new contents to the traditional links with Africa in response to dramatic changes in the international environment, Li said.

On international issues, China and African countries share mutual understanding and support as they step up consultation and cooperation. China actively pushes the international community to give priority to the peace and development of Africa. It insists that reform of the United Nations should give priority to increasing the representation of African countries and other developing countries in the Security Council.

China has sent more than 800 military personnel to carry out peace-keeping missions in a number of African countries, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia.