Chinese President Hu Jintao started his visit to Morocco on April 24, and after that will go to Nigeria and Kenya. This is another important visit to Africa by a top Chinese leader. On January 12 this year, the Chinese government released China's African Policy, marking an important event in the history of Sino-African relations. In the coming November, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation as well as its 3rd Ministerial Conference will be held in Beijing, an event of unprecedented scale in history. Such a series of major diplomatic activities demonstrated the high attention China paid to Africa, and marked a new stage of China-Africa friendship and cooperation.

The New China established diplomatic relations with Egypt on May 30, 1956, opening a new chapter in the history of Sino-African friendship. In the half century that followed, the two sides have respected and supported each other in political affairs and become "all-weather friends"; rich economic achievements have also been scored based on equal treatment and common development. Among Africa's 53 countries, 47 keep diplomatic ties with China. Bilateral trade has leapt from $12 million in the 1950s to nearly $40 billion today. The two sides have been keeping close cooperation in international affairs and together safeguarding legitimate rights of developing countries. China has been speaking out of a sense of justice at international institutions including the United Nations and striving for more international attention to the issue of Africa's development. African countries, on the other hand, have been giving their firm support to China on questions concerning China's national interests such as Taiwan, Tibet and human rights.

The new generation of China's central leadership attaches great importance to developing and strengthening friendly cooperative ties with Africa, with the focus laid on continuously expanding the scope and mode of cooperation. China's newly released Africa policy paper serves both a review of half-century friendly cooperation and a guiding document expounding on the government's diplomatic policy on peace, development and cooperation in Africa in a new era. It indicates that China and African countries will further enlarge consensus, deepen cooperation, join hands to sharpen their international competitive edge, face challenges together and achieve the goal of common development.

Along with the ever-enhancing Sino-Africa friendly relations in new situations and the competitiveness of Chinese enterprises on African markets, interests of some countries were inevitably affected and, consequently, irresponsible remarks arose, trying to drive a wedge between China and African countries. However, facts speak louder than words. Over the years, it is western powers, not China, who practiced cruel colonial rule in African countries and looted their resources like mad. Until today, backbone sectors of African countries such as heavy industry and mining are still in the grasp of western transnational companies.

China and African countries share no historical feud, no conflict in fundamental interests but have cherished long-term friendship and solid, wide foundation for cooperation. Over half a century, China has launched more than 800 construction aid and cooperation programs and sent tens of thousands professionals including 15,000 medical workers across the continent. Today, Chinese aids without any political conditions can be seen in Africa almost everywhere, which are highly praised by local governments and people. China supports a leading role by the African Union (AU) in African affairs as well as the implementation of New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). It also backs Africa's legitimate requests at multilateral occasions such as the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. Facts have shown and will continue to show that China follows the philosophy of peaceful development and cultivates relations with African courtiers based on respect for sovereignty, equality and mutual benefit, which is different in nature with colonialism.

For China and Africa, establishing and developing a new strategic partnership that features political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win and cultural exchanges would not only benefit both parties but help achieve common prosperity among developing countries so as to push forward sustained peace and harmonious progress of the world.

By People's Daily Online