Africa has never seen and will never see any so called threat from China, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade said on Friday.

In a written interview with Xinhua, Wade said during his recent visits to France and the United States, he heard some words that China's cheap goods would pose great threats to Africa's weak industry and undermine the local economy.

"I can never agree with the perceptions of 'China threat.' Africa has never seen any so called threat from China, and will never see that in future," said the president.

The "China threat" drummed up by some people, is just an attempt to create negative images of China, said the president, who was leaving for Beijing for a two-day China-Africa summit.

"The African people can tell the truth. We are willing to cooperate with China, because our cooperation with China is convenient and productive," he added.

Wade voiced his support to the creation of a free industrial zone in Senegal, where Chinese entrepreneurs could open factories, store goods, and conduct free trade. He also pledged that his government will support Chinese industrialists with preferential policies.

The president also applauded the proposal to create a "China town" in his country, which he said could not only facilitate Chinese entrepreneurs, but also help Senegalese people get Chinese goods and learn about Chinese culture.

Wade accepted the interview right before he left for the forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which begins on Saturday. The summit, which has brought together leaders from 48 African countries, will be the highest-level and the largest gathering of Chinese and African leaders, since China and African countries started forging cooperative ties in the 1950s.

Source: Xinhua