China and Africa has had a long-term good cooperation relationship which went back to the 1950s. Both sides have all along supported each other politically and economically, said He Wenping, director of African Studies Section of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, at the China-Africa cooperation seminar held by the World Economic Forum on Africa.

The cooperation between China and Africa is both effective and pragmatic. China has exempted a series of debts and tariffs for African countries and has set up development fund in the interests of African countries, said Harry G. Broadman, World Bank's economic advisor for the African region at the seminar.

China has offered bilateral aid to more than 40 African countries and set up most preferential treatment agreements with 20 African countries.

Facts proved that China is a sincere cooperation partner of Africa which places great hope on China, said Elisabeth Tankeu, commissioner of Trade and Industry of African Union, at the same occasion.

China proved African countries unreservedly with its development experiences and has trained 5,000 professionals from various fields. And China has also offered 2,700 scholarships to African youth. Some western media's criticism over China-Africa cooperation is totally groundless, said Tankeu.

China has all along adopted the peaceful and independent diplomatic policies and respected African countries, and never impose its own will on other countries, which should be valued, Tankeu said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2008)