China and the group of four major African cotton producing countries (C4) have announced a joint program to offer financial and technical support to C4's cotton production over the next few years.

The program was jointly announced by the Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming and trade ministers or representatives from C4 countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali.

Cooperation between the two sides will include technology transfer, technical assistance in researches, provision of seeds, agricultural machinery, fertilizers and pesticides, funding of training projects, as well as exchanges of experience.

"In longer term, we may relocate some of the textile and apparel industry into Africa," Chen told the press, noting that there are already cases of such relocation.

"China's cotton market has always been open to C4 countries," Chen said, adding the new program represents a concrete action in "aid for trade" and another step forward in promoting development as stipulated by the Doha Development Agenda.