China is willing to make joint efforts with African countries to make the
upcoming China-Africa summit slated for this November a complete success, said
Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan here Tuesday.
Tang made the remarks when meeting with a delegation of African senior
diplomats. They are visiting China while Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is on a
seven-nation African tour.
Tang said this year marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic
ties between New China and African countries. "China-Africa friendship has
withstood the test of times and international climates, and is regarded an
example of south-south cooperation," he said.
"To enhance solidarity and cooperation with African countries is important
content of China's independent foreign policy of peace," Tang said.
Under new circumstances, China will unswervingly persist in China-Africa
friendship, highly value its relations with African countries and join hands
with them to inaugurate new phases of China-Africa friendship, he said.
The state councilor said the third ministerial meeting of the China-Africa
Cooperation Forum slated for this November is a great event in the history of
China-Africa relations.
"China is ready to make joint efforts with African countries to make the
conference a complete success," he said.
Moussa Diakite, head of the delegation, said African countries spoke highly
of China's long-term friendly policies toward Africa and its selfless help for
their social and economic development.
Diakite, also secretary-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation of Mali, expressed his best wishes for China's
political stability and economic development. He hopes Africa-China relations
could continue to make new progress.
The delegation, comprising of 25 senior diplomats from 25 African countries
and two sub-regional organizations, is visiting China at the invitation of the
Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs.
This year is an important year for China-Africa ties. China published early
this year an African policy document and Chinese President Hu Jintao visited
three African nations in April. Premier Wen on Saturday kicked off his eight-day
official visits to Egypt, Ghana, the Republic of Congo, Angola, South Africa,
Tanzania and Uganda.
