From Agnes Boye-Doe, GNA Special Correspondent, Beijing

Beijing, June 10, GNA - The People's Republic of China (PRC) has no plans to either colonize or exploit Africa as being speculated by the western world, Ms. Wang Ke, Counsellor of the African Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, said on Monday.

She said China and Africa belonged to the developing world and that the current friendship she enjoyed with Africa started since the founding of China in 1949, adding that, it would develop into a long-term cooperation to bring about economic development, independence and peace on both sides.

"China considers African countries as its friends and is committed to a new Sino-Africa strategic partnership based on trust, sincerity, equality, mutual support and common development," she said. Ms wang was answering questions from African journalists participating in a sensitization programme in Beijing during a lecture on "China's Spokesman System".

A total of 23 journalists from 12 African countries are attending the two- week programme aimed at exposing them to China's political, economic and cultural systems.

It is organised by China Foreign Affairs University and jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Commerce. Ms Wang said African countries had the right to choose their own partners for development adding, "they have the right to translate their advantages in resources into advantages in development through cooperation."

She said, the will and views of the African people must be respected when comments on exploitation were made and that Sino-Africa relationship had not only propelled other countries to show greater concern for the African continent but had enabled it to take bold steps towards achieving sustainable development.

She said as the citizens of China now enjoyed free and honourable life in a homeland of justice and peace, so shall Africans experience these in the nearest future.

Professor Li Xiguang, Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication of the Tsinghua University, said the self-power of a nation went with press freedom and agenda setting.

He said most African countries had achieved this and called on the journalists to tell the good stories to enhance the building of a good image of the continent.