China and Africa agreed their friendship will remain strong and defy any attempt to drive a wedge between the two.

The pledge was made as State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke to African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat over the phone on Monday.

Wang said that China treats its own citizens and foreigners equally, and opposes any kind of differential treatment targeting certain groups. He said China and African countries need more than ever to trust each other, support each other and work in unity to overcome the challenges of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

China has always had a friendly policy toward Africa, Wang said, adding that their friendship, which is "as solid as rock", will never be affected by individual incidents, let alone be disrupted by certain forces' attempts to sow discord between them.