1st Ld-Writethru: New measures on the way for China-Africa cooperation

BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) - China will announce new measures to promote cooperation with Africa at an upcoming summit, said Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday.

Wang said China will help Africa with industrialization, food security, public health and disease prevention.

Wang made the remarks at the ministry's 15th Lanting Forum on the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Johannesburg, South Africa.

President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to South Africa and chair the forum from Dec. 2 to 5.

Calling Africa "the foundation of the foundation" in Chinese diplomacy, Wang said FOCAC has helped lead the development of China-Africa relations.

FOCAC, established in 2000, aims to promote bilateral ties and cooperation between China and Africa through dialogue.

"The Johannesburg summit meets the expectations of African countries and the practical needs of China-Africa relations, and it will promote unity between developing countries," Wang said.

He added that Chinese and African leaders will review their relations and plan for future development of bilateral ties.

China and African countries are developing and have a total population of over 2.4 billion. The summit will show the strength of developing countries' cooperation, Wang said.

He said the two sides share much in common and hold similar stances on many international and regional issues. The suffering and hardships they have shared help them understand each other and cooperate for development.

Wang said China will promote cooperation with Africa, from general trade and production capacity to project contracts and investment.

He called on the two sides to combine China's advantage in development experience and production with Africa's advantage in natural and human resources and markets.

China will help Africa achieve self-development and create a peaceful and stable environment for long-term progress. China does not attach political conditions to assistance, nor does it constrain or interfere in the domestic affairs of African countries, he said.

"China will not follow the beaten track of past major powers and will not sacrifice Africa's environment and long-term interests," Wang stressed.

He said the summit will focus more on improving people's livelihood,poverty reduction, and investment in the least developed countries and women and children.

"The summit will send a strong signal to the international community about the importance, respect and support China gives to Africa. We hope that will strengthen the confidence of the international community and bring more input to Africa," the minister said.

China is willing to work with other parties to contribute to Africa's peace and development, Wang said. Endi