China will send an envoy to attend the African Union Leaders Summit, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said Tuesday at a regular press conference.

The summit is scheduled to be held from July 6 to 8 in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. China's Vice Foreign Minister Qiao Zonghuai will attend the meeting as an envoy of the Chinese government and deliver a congratulatory letter from Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Zhang said.

The Chinese government valued the position and role of the African Union and would strengthen friendly cooperation with it in order to contribute to the peace and development of Africa, the spokeswoman said.

Source: Xinhua