BEIJING -- China has sent a total of 23,000 medical team members to Africa, who have treated 230 million patients over the past 58 years, said a white paper released Friday.

At present, there are nearly 1,000 Chinese medical workers in 45 African countries, working at 98 medical centers, according to a white paper titled "China and Africa in the New Era: A Partnership of Equals."

To date, China has helped 18 African countries establish 20 centers in different medical specialties, covering cardiology, critical care medicine, trauma and endoscopy.

Paired cooperation mechanisms have been established between the Chinese side and 45 hospitals in 40 African countries, the white paper said.