Besides its various business investments in Africa, China has now vowed to increase its medical cooperation with the continent. Chinese President Xi Jinping promised further medical cooperation during a meeting with dozens of health ministers from Africa in Beijing.

Xi said China will continue to dispatch cataract surgeons and other medical teams as well as boost cooperation in maternal and child health care, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

According to Xinhua as reported by AP, Xi was addressing representatives from African nations and international organizations participating in the Ministerial Forum on China-Africa Health Development.

“Human development is at the core of development,” Xi said during the meeting. “We hope this forum will substantially push forward health cooperation between China and Africa.”

There were representatives from  48 African countries and eight international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNAIDS and the UN Population Fund.

During the opening ceremonies, Vice Premier Liu Yandong told the delegates that China will dispatch 1,500 medical personnel to Africa over the coming three years to perform free cataract operations, Xinhua said.

“Separately, health ministers and officials at the forum released a Beijing Declaration setting out a guideline for cooperation in areas including malaria HIV/AIDS, reproductive health and immunization,” reports AP.