Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei on Thursday refuted accusations that China's cooperation with African countries is a practice of "colonialism", saying that Sino-African ties are based on mutual benefits.

Wu, a member of the Standing Committee of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said economic cooperation between China and other developing countries had always observed the model of enterprises operating under market-defined conditions with government guidance.

Such economic cooperation would bring benefits to both sides, Wu said.

Noting that some people have demonized Sino-African cooperation as a practice of "colonialism", Wu dismissed the accusations saying those people acted on ulterior motives.

Wu said since the establishment of the New China, the country has always kept close ties with African countries.

He promised that China would expand its help toward the African countries in the future as China gains further development.

Chinese President Hu Jintao also pledged to continue to increase aid and grant debt relief to African countries and broaden trade and investments in Africa in his tour to the continent earlier this year.

(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2009)