Chinese President Hu Jintao's Africa tour takes him to Morocco, Nigeria and Kenya which are in the north, west and east of the continent. The important visit by the Chinese leader will definitely promote the Sino-Afro relations.

The year of 2006 marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the diplomatic ties between China and Africa. For the past half century, the mutual trust and support between the two sides in political fields have led to the "all-weather friendship" while the mutual help on equal basis economically has achieved fruitful results.

In the world arena, China has been trying to draw more attention of the international community to the peace and development of Africa. The incumbent Chinese leadership attaches great importance to expanding cooperation and friendship with Africa. The China-Africa Cooperation Forum has become a mechanism for dialogues and a platform for cooperation.

47 African countries have diplomatic relations with China. The bilateral trade between China and Africa soared to US$39.74 billion last year from US$12 million in 1950. The China-Africa partnership is in the best time in history.

However, the further cooperation and China's stronger competitiveness in this region have no doubt challenged the interest of some countries which then cast suspicious and scared eyes on China. A speculation about the so-called "China treat" has been created.

Western media hypes up China's "economic colonialism" in Africa, cooking up stories about China's oil-and-nonferrous metal motivated investment increase in Africa and playing up the "threat" on local business and labor by China's textile exports or the "menace" on the local economy by China's imports of raw materials and exports of manufacturing products.

None of those assertions which sound mindful of the interest of the African people are based on facts or go with the tides. Behind them is the intention of sowing discord between China and Africa.
 
As it is known to all, western powers, not China, colonized Africa and looted resources there in the history. There is no historical feuds or interest conflicts between China and African countries. The traditional friendship between China and Africa has a long history and is well-established.

China pursues the idea of peaceful development and advocates the democracy in the international relations. It adheres to the principle of respect to sovereignty, equality and mutual benefit when it develops relations with African countries. China adopts and practices fundamentally differently from what colonialism does.

The Sino-African friendship not only benefits people of the two sides, but also promotes the world's peace and development. Nowadays, China's aids without political conditions stretch through the whole African continent and are highly praised by African governments and people. China has also joint the world peace-keeping efforts in Africa.

Mr. Charles Asilia Sanga, Tanzanian Ambassador to China, said at a Sino-African business forum that the cooperation on resource development and infrastructure has generated more jobs in Africa and higher income for African people.

He praised China as Africa's real friend who has played a decisive role in helping the continent's independence struggle and freedom from apartheid. He expressed his hope for more aid from the government, enterprises and people of China in Africans' struggle for prosperity.

(People's Daily Online April 27, 2006)