China vows to advance novel partnership with Africa

BEIJING, May 27 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to work with Africa to advance the new type of strategic partnership between China and Africa, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei said Monday.

Hong made the remarks at a press briefing when asked to comment the recent African Union (AU) summit and China's outlook for future China-Africa ties.

The AU on Saturday marked the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization for African Unity (OAU), which is now the AU, with a variety of activities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the seat of its headquarters.

Vice Premier Wang Yang, as Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy, was invited to the AU's Jubilee celebration.

During the visit, Wang met with AU Chairman and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and AU Commission chair Nkosazana Dlamimi-Zuma. He also attended the signing ceremony for several China-AU and China-Ethiopia cooperation agreements.

Hong said the special summit was an important activity to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the OAU and it achieved complete success.

"China believes that African countries will take this opportunity to further boost Pan-Africanism and the spirit of the African renaissance, enhance solidarity and cooperation, and make greater achievements in self-reliance and the African integration process," said Hong.

"China has attached great importance to developing relations with Africa," he said, citing President Xi's choice to visit Africa during his first foreign trip in March.

Top legislator Zhang Dejiang on Saturday attended a reception held in Beijing by the African Diplomatic Corps in China to mark the 50th founding anniversary of the OAU.

Hong said these underlined the importance China has placed on relations with Africa as well as the friendliness between the two sides.

To make greater contributions to Africa's development and revival, China is ready to work with Africa to implement the results of President Xi's visit, continuously deepen strategic mutual trust with Africa and comprehensively push forward China-Africa cooperation, said the spokesman.

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