BEIJING, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Madagascan ambassador to China Victor Sikonina praised the momentum of the cooperation between African countries and China, saying the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is a successful mechanism.

Sikonina, who is also the dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in China, told Xinhua in an interview that the Africa-China cooperation has been upgraded to a comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership, under which all issues are discussed, and intense exchanges in various fields have multiplied.

"The FOCAC is a great idea and continues to be an example of win-win cooperation in the world," said the African diplomat, adding that it is "based on trust and brotherhood" between Africa and China.

The climate of mutual trust allows the leaders of both China and African countries to carry forward the cause and forge ahead into the future, he said.

Sikonina spoke highly of China's opening-up policy, the defense of multilateralism, and the Belt and Road Initiative, which invites all interested countries to participate in.

He expressed his confidence in the sound bilateral relations between China and Madagascar, which he said is playing a role of bridge between Africa and China.