China on Thursday said it will continue offering aid to poor African countries within its own capacity.

"As a developing country, China itself has a heavy task for development; but China has provided assistance within its own capacity to poor countries including those in Africa over past years," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a regular press conference.

"China will continue its efforts in this regard," he said.

China announced exemption of loans from some poor African countries at the first ministerial-level meeting of the China-Africa Cooperation held in Beijing in October 2000.

Within two years, China fulfilled its commitments, exempting 10.5 billion yuan (1.27 billion US dollars) loans from 31 African countries.

"China hopes its efforts can help quicken the steps of the international community to reduce or exempt the loans from poor countries," Liu said, adding that it is incumbent on developed countries to help poor countries.

Liu welcomed the move taken by the G-8 finance ministers to exempt part of loans from poor countries at June's meeting in London.

"We hope the relevant decisions could be carried out at an early date," he added.

African population accounts for 10 percent of the world total, but its economic output accounts for less than one percent.

Among the 49 most underdeveloped nations confirmed by the United Nations, 34 are from Africa.

Source: Xinhua