Zambian former president Kenneth Kaunda has praised Sino-African relations, saying that the recent Chinese president's visit to some African countries is "a truly remarkable development in terms of world peace."

The African veteran statesman made the remarks in his diary written after President Hu Jintao's visit to the United States and four Asian and African countries last month, local weekly Sunday Post reported

He reviewed the Sino-U.S. relations, cold war between the West and East, Africa's support for the restoration of China's representation in the United Nations and Chinese support to African independence and liberation struggle.

He said his meeting with late Chinese leaders Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai have remained of true historical importance, adding that "we laid foundation for future cooperation."

Kaunda, who rule Zambia after its independence in 1964 until 1991, said China helped Zambia in building Tanzania-Zambia railway (TAZARA), some communications, textile manufacturing and infrastructure.

"All these contributions they made were all without negative conditionalities from China. They did not tell us to follow any political or economic ideologies," he said.

"Chinese people are now all over Africa where they are doing legitimate business. Many people from China are carrying out other projects useful to development of the African continent," said the Zambian former president, who had visited China four times.

The Chinese leadership is not only ready to help build friendship with the third world, but is keen to build friendship all over the world, he said.

"I pray that as the Chinese leadership does this other parts of the world will receive them as fellow human beings and friend. That will avert unnecessary conflicts between nations," Kaunda said in his diary.

"It is good time in strengthening the friendship between Africa and China. China, with that population, is capable of doing great things that would help the rest of human kind," the 82-year-old former president said.

Africa can do a lot of business with China. "If any has anxieties about any of our Chinese friends, I advise they quickly approach the leadership through the embassies of China. We need to keep this friendship with China straight, strong and open," Kaunda concluded.

Source: Xinhua