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 in Beijing 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.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2006)