BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhuanet) --Two senior African diplomats in Beijing have described China's relationship with African countries as positive and worthy of emulation.
Achene Boukhelfa, Algerian Ambassador and Nasreldin Abdalla, First Secretary in the Sudanese embassy, made the remarks at a symposium held at Renmin University in Beijing on Monday.
The symposium was organized by one of China's most prominent think-tanks, the Chonyang Institute for Financial Studies of the university.
Boukhelfa said the traditional friendship between China and African countries has a long history and has always been based on mutual respect, mutual benefit, non-interference in internal affairs and win-win cooperation.
China and Algeria established relationship in 1958 just before independence from French colonialism and this year both countries celebrate the 60 years of win-win cooperation.
Boukhelfa also lauded the bilateral economic cooperation.
From 2011 to 2016, China invested an average of 12 billion U.S. dollars in infrastructure in Africa every year, making it the largest source of investment in Africa. As of April 2017, the length of railways and highways built by China through aid and financing for Africa had both exceeded 5,000 kilometers respectively, he added.
While advocating for further cooperation in science and technology and infrastructure construction, Boukhelfa noted that he is certain that both China and African countries "have a common future".
On his part, Abdalla noted that China is a traditional partner of Africa.
He praised the Belt and Road Initiative, which he believes will secure the future of China-Africa relations.
Abdalla urged China to pay more attention to Africa in the area of technology transfer and capacity development, noting that the development of the African countries will aid the progress and internalization of Chinese companies.
