Chinese FM speaks of advantages in relations with Africa

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses a meeting with African foreign ministers at the UN headquarters in New York Sept. 23, 2013. (Xinhua/Zhang Jun)

China has advantages in developing relations with Africa, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday.

Addressing a meeting with foreign ministers from African nations at the UN headquarters, Wang said China's biggest advantages are its sincerity and mutual trust with Africa.

China has three advantages in developing relations with Africa, a top diplomat of an African country has once said, noted Wang.

The three advantages are: China does not have a colonial history in Africa and never interferes in the continent's internal affairs; China, through assistance and investment, has proven itself to be a sincere and selfless friend of Africa's; China has become more active in peacekeeping operations in Africa.

Wang said those remarks reflected the true feelings of Africans.

The three advantages could actually be summarized as China's sincerity and China-Africa mutual trust, said Wang.

China will always be a firm supporter and reliable partner for Africa's unity and self-improvement, he said.

China will lend full support to Africans' choice of development paths that suit their own conditions, provide aid for the continent's development with no political strings attached, and give strong backing to Africa's efforts in solving regional problems independently, said Wang.