The $60bn (£40bn) pledge from China to fund development projects underlines the significance that the country has on the continent. 

The fact that more than 30 heads of state are at the Johannesburg summit is also evidence of this.

China is by far Africa's largest single trading partner accounting for $222bn in 2014 in comparison to US trade which amounted to $73bn.

China-Africa researchers at Johns Hopkins University, external in the US have put together this table of China's biggest trading partners on the continent:

Image source, Johns Hopkins

But as London's Financial Times reports, external the economic slowdown in China - and lower commodity prices - has caused a 32% contraction in the value imports from Africa over the past year.

When it comes to foreign direct investment, however, money from China is still not as big as investment from elsewhere, as Wits University reports, external.

Pumza Fihlani
BBC News, Johannesburg

A new dog hotel has opened its doors in Cape Town and it has pulled out all the stops to ensure its guests enjoy staying in the lap of luxury. 

The hotel, believed to be a first of its kind in South Africa, features a spa, fine dining, a pet clinic, plush bedding and pay channel DSTV for the dogs’ viewing pleasure. 

There are even themed rooms like Jurassic Bark, because every dog has a different personality, the owner says.

Eye Witness News took a tour of the facility:

As well as the world leaders at the climate change talks in Paris this week was the Senegal-born singer Akon. 

He was talking about his project to bring electricity to 600 million people in rural communities across the continent.

He explained to us on the BBC's Newsday programme that the huge project all started with just wanting to get street lights in the area where his family live in Dakar, Senegal.

#NoToSocialMediaBill has been trending on Twitter in Nigeria all night.

People are protesting against a bill which aims to “prohibit frivolous petitions”.

Activists say the bill being discussed in the Senate would restrict freedom of expression.

China's President Xi Jinping says China will provide a $60bn (£40bn) funding package for Africa.

The announcement came at a major China-Africa summit in Johannesburg.

President Xi said the package would include zero-interest loans for the continent as well as scholarships and training for thousands of Africans. 

He said the remaining debt of the least-developed African countries in 2015 would be cancelled. 

China is Africa's largest trading partner but its investment in the continent had recorded a 40% fall in the first six months of this year.

African heads of state have also been praising China's contribution to the continent, as the South African government has been tweeting: