A Chinese governmental delegation will attend the seventh African Union summit scheduled for early July as an observer, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu Tuesday.

The forthcoming summit is scheduled to be held in Banjul, the capital of Gambia.

Regarding AU as a most representative regional organization of Africa, Jiang said it has played important role in maintaining peace in Africa and promoting its development.

"China has all along kept sound cooperative ties with AU and provided support and help for its mechanism building and relevant actions," she told a regular press briefing.

China has always been invited to attend AU summit in recent years, the spokeswoman said. In order to enhance friendly cooperation with AU, China has sent a representative to AU in March who also holds another post simultaneously, she added.

Source: Xinhua