Preferential loans directed towards infrastructure and social programmes where announced by Wen Jiabao, the Chinese premier, at the opening of a two-day China-Africa summit.

Chinese help for African nations is designed to promote its interests in the export of raw materials and expansion of local markets. The Chinese package would encourage Chinese financial institutions to lend to smaller African firms, expand market access for African products and culitivate good will with local government by helping states cope with climate change.

Some of the financing would go to cancelling debts the most heavily indebted countries owe to China.

The loans - double those pledged at the last summit in 2006 - were promised as China and the West vie to expand their influence in Africa by portraying their interests as mutally beneficial. Chinese commentators regularly deride Western involvement in Africa as paternalistic exercises in aid hand-outs.

"Africa's development is an essential part of achieving global development, and as the sincere and dependable friend of Africa, China deeply feels the difficulties and challenges faced by Africa," Mr Wen said.