China hosted a reception in Beijing on Thursday evening to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of diplomatic ties with African countries and the release of China's African Policy Paper.
   
Addressing the reception, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said China and Egypt established their diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level fifty years ago. This launched the process of mutual recognition between China and African countries and signified a new stage of development of Sino-African ties.
   
Since then, China has established diplomatic relations with 47 African countries, he said.
   
The past fifty years have seen increasingly deep relations in various fields of cooperation between China and Africa, and have borne remarkable fruit, Tang said. "Given our all-weather relationship, genuine cooperation and fraternal affection, China and Africa are good friends, sincere partners and affectionate brothers," he added.
   
The Chinese government has always attached great importance to Africa. The release of China's African policy paper shows that the Chinese government inherits and will carry forward the tradition of Sino-African friendship and build a new type of strategic partnership with Africa, featuring political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchange, Tang said.
   
"I am convinced this document will help open more channels, add new elements, enrich the content of, and inject fresh impetus into our efforts to promote Sino-African friendship," he said.
   
It will not only advance China's relationship with Africa, but will trigger more attention and interest among the international community in developing cooperation with Africa, which will contribute to a greater harmony and balanced development of the world, Tang added.
   
Eleih-Elle Etian, Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in China, spoke highly of the China-Africa friendship in his address and warmly welcomed the release of the document.
   
"The document will greatly help push forward the friendly cooperation between Africa and China," said Etian, who is also Ambassador of Cameroon to China.
   
More than 200 foreign diplomats and Chinese officials attended the reception.

(Xinhua News Agency January 13, 2006)