In addition to helping tackle the unprecedented Ebola crisis, China wants to help to increase crisis-hit countries' ability to address the root cause, China's Special Representative for African Affairs said on Friday.

China sends mobile laboratory testing team to Sierra Leone

The spread of Ebola is related to the region's economic development, which cannot afford expensive research into the virus, Zhong Jianhua said.

China's national strength and its connection to Africa are growing, and the government attaches great importance to supporting the continent, he said.

He also called for related countries and organizations to set aide personal economic interests and put medicines into use as soon as possible.

Zhong's remarks came shortly after Chinese experts tested Ebola samples for the first time at Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital, some 30 kilometers from the capital Freetown.

This was the first contact Chinese experts have had with the virus, Xinhua reported.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday that China will always stand beside Africa in the fight against Ebola.

He made the pledge while addressing a high-level meeting on responses to the outbreak on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Debate.

China has sent more than 170 medical workers to affected areas to fight the epidemic since the outbreak began.

In August, China offered 30 million yuan ($4. 86 million) worth of humanitarian assistance to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, which was delivered to them by air.

This month, President Xi Jinping announced an additional package of assistance totaling 200 million yuan and offered cash assistance to the World Health Organization and African Union each worth $2 million.

Contact the writers at zhaoshengnan@chinadaily.com.cn and chijun@chinadaily.com.cn