Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in Beijing on Thursday that the international community, and particularly developed countries, should take effective measures to help Africa achieve sustainable development.

In response to a question on the annual board meetings of the African Development Bank (ADB) in Shanghai, Jiang said China-Africa cooperation is an important part of China's foreign policy.

"China's assistance to Africa is sincere and without political conditions. We would like to work with the international community to promote cooperation with Africa," Jiang said.

"The development of Africa depends on the continent's own strength but also on support and assistance from the international community," she said.

There are five African countries which have not established diplomatic relations with China. Jiang said people-to-people exchanges between China and those five African countries have never ceased.

China and the five countries have no fundamental political conflict and have the potential to develop economic cooperation, so China is willing to set up normal relations with these countries based on the five principles of peaceful coexistence, Jiang said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2007)