BEIJING -- China will promote the healthy development of its trade with Africa through taking multiple measures, according to a white paper released by the Chinese government on Thursday.

These measures include implementing the "Special Plan on Trade with Africa," which will expand the scope of zero tariff treatment for African products exported to China and increase China's imports from Africa, according to the paper released by the Information Office of the State Council.

China will also improve the brand building, marketing channels and quality of China's commodities exported to Africa, the paper said.

In addition, China will help African countries improve their customs and commodity inspection facilities by mobilizing aid for trade, provide support for African countries to promote trade facilitation, and push forward trade development within Africa, according to the white paper.

It says that Sino-African bilateral trade has great potential due to the complementary conditions on both sides, and is significant for common economic development.

China became Africa's biggest trade partner in 2009. In the following two years, the scale of bilateral trade expanded rapidly. In 2012, the total volume of China-Africa trade reached $198.49 billion, a year-on-year growth of 19.3 percent, the paper says.