BEIJING - China hopes that former South African President Nelson Mandela will recover from a lung infection soon, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

Spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular press briefing that the Chinese ambassador to South Africa has conveyed the Chinese government's regards to Mandela and his family via the South African government.

Noting that Mandela was a great anti-apartheid leader, the founder of a new South Africa and a world-renowned statesman, Hua said the international community is paying close attention to Mandela's recurring lung infection as well as the South African people's concern about his illness.

She said China hopes he will overcome the illness and recover soon.