China-Africa co-op benefits both sides

BEIJING - China-Africa cooperation has brought substantial benefits to both sides, said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Friday, adding that China will continue to promote the cooperation with sincerity, mutual respect and equality.

Yang made the remarks during a joint press conference of the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), together with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr and South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.

In response to a question about his comments on China-Africa cooperation, Yang said the cooperation was welcomed by African countries and their people. "African people are the owners of Africa. We need to respect African countries' right to choose partners of cooperation on their own," said Yang.

He said China will continue to work with African countries to forge closer relations in the principle of sincere friendship, equality, mutual benefit and common development.

Yang said China-Africa cooperation not only promotes the development of Africa, but also advances the cooperation between other countries and Africa.

"We hope that China and other countries can learn from each other when conducting cooperation, so as to make joint efforts to the peace, stability and development in Africa," Yang said.

The ministerial conference was held in the Chinese capital on Thursday and Friday, bringing together heads of state and government, foreign ministers and ministers for foreign economic cooperation from China and 50 African countries, as well as representatives from the African Union.

The FOCAC is a collective consultation and dialogue mechanism between China and African countries launched in 2000.