JAKARTA, April 21 -- The Asian-African partnership is entering a new and exciting phase in the last decade, Suryo Bambang Sulitso, chairman of Indonesia's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), said here Tuesday.

"There is an exceptional growth taking place in both continents, "Sulitso told the one-day Asian-African Business Summit (AABS).

"This condition provided us with a great opportunity for a new economic and business partnership."

The business leader said the number of trade agreements between the two continents is on the rise including the Free Trade Agreement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN) and the South Africa Development Community.

During Tuesday's AABS, sectors including trade, investment, infrastructures, maritime and agriculture are the main topics.

Participants of the business summit expressed hopes that concrete cooperation between countries in Asia and Africa would increase significantly following their meeting.

Official figures show that Asia and Africa cover more than 75 percent of the world population and more than 28 percent of the world's GDP.