A Ghanaian expert in International Relations on Thursday described Chinese president Xi Jinping's visit to some African countries as a timely one that will strengthen and deepen relations with Africa.

Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, a Lecturer at the University of Ghana's Legon Center for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD), said Africa and China have had long standing relationship over a long period of time, even before the arrival of the colonialists to the continent.

He believes and sees the Chinese president's visit as an opportunity for the two sides to renew, reinforce and further progress their very old friendship.

"This visit is a very laudable one," he told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

"It serves as a familiarization tour of Africa for Xi, to strengthen the already laid-down relationship with Africa by former Chinese leaders as well as deepen China's relationship with specific African countries," he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping this week embarked on a state visit to some African countries including Tanzania and South Africa to enhance friendship and cooperation between China and Africa.

Antwi-Danso opposed with analysis that china's relations with Africa is not a win-win situation.

"The Chinese have not intentionally decided to exploit Africa over and above the word; Africa needs to create the atmosphere for a win-win situation," the Lecturer said.

China and Africa have forged a profound friendship over the past decades. The two sides have supported each other in the course of national development and coordinated well in dealing with international issues.

The China-Africa relations have grown more vigorously since 2000, when the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was established to further bilateral cooperation, the lecture said.

At the FOCAC Beijing Summit in 2006, China and Africa decided to build a new type of strategic partnership, which has deepened bilateral cooperation in all areas in recent years.

China became Africa's biggest trading partner in 2009 while investment in Africa has also registered strong growth in recent years.

China has also stepped up assistance to Africa, with more aid focusing on improving the well-being of local people, poverty reduction, disaster preparedness and mitigation, and capacity building.

Antwi-Danso said African countries have a lot to learn from China's economic transformation, a country he said embarked on vigorous economic and industrial transformation on its own.

"It is better to follow somebody who has been there before, who knows how to do it than somebody who tells you do it this way," he said. "China has been where Africa now is before and we can learn a great deal from their rapid industrialization and innovative policies which they did in a short time," the expert said.

He urged African governments to establish transparent good governance specifically being prudent in economic governance to make its relations with China easier and beneficial for the two sides.

The Republic of Congo will be the final leg of Xi's first Africa trip as Chinese president.