As an emerging economy, China is increasingly aware of its obligation to the international community. China was the first country to clearly propose and promote the three-party mechanism on Darfur. It is also the first country beyond Africa to send peacekeeping forces to the Darfur region in Sudan.

As a responsible power, China has given its full support to United Nations missions in Africa, sending so far more than 800 peacekeeping troops to war-torn countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia.

However, China's increasing involvement in Africa plus its principle of non-interference into the political affairs of African countries is sometimes viewed in a different light, certain western critics even called it "neo-colonialism".

Bill Durodie, associate fellow with the Royal Institute of International Affairs, United Kingdom, said in 2008 at a conference in London that China's trade and investment in Africa benefits not only Africans, but the Europeans and the United States as well.

"African countries that have been growing at 5-6 percent for a decade need new roads, power stations, hospitals, schools and manufactured goods,' he said, adding "Unlike others in the region, the Chinese have a reputation for paying promptly and well."

According to Durodie, Western countries' criticizing on China's new role and impact on Africa is a sign of the Western imagination's inability to view Africans as capable of dealing with their own problems and the West's obsession with viewing China as malign.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, also noted in his speech at the 2006 Beijing summit: "We hold that the establishment of a new type of strategic partnership is both the shared desire and independent choice of China and Africa, serves our common interests, and will help enhance solidarity, mutual support and assistance and unity of the developing countries and contribute todurable peace and harmonious development in the world."

Indeed, the new China-Africa strategic partnership will carry the two sides far into the future and, for all to see.

(Xinhua News Agency October 3, 2009)