China will help the African Union build disease control and prevention centers to increase its ability to fight infectious illnesses, a Chinese health official said.

"In future every African Union member will have at least one center for disease control and prevention," Wang Liji, vice-director of the international cooperation department of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said.

Many countries in Africa currently do not have such centers and lack the ability to diagnose and prevent diseases.

"China will intensify medical assistance and send more experts to African countries," he said. Wang made his comments at a ceremony to reward 10 doctors and nurses sent by the government to foreign countries offering medical assistance.