A South African official Thursday rejected any notion that China has "sinister motives" in Africa, saying outcomes of the recent China-Africa summit in Beijing proved China wants a sustainable relationship with Africa.

Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad told a media briefing in Pretoria, "In all our discussions at the (recent Beijing) summit ( of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation) and during the working visit (by South African President Thabo Mbeki) immediately after the summit, the Chinese leadership made it clear that they could not have a relationship that resembled the traditional colonial one."

"If you look at the agreements reached at the summit, you will see that the Chinese do desire a sustainable relationship with Africa," he said.

At the recent Beijing summit, China signed 1.9-billion-dollar deals with African countries while pledging more aid, debt relief, and increased bilateral trade in the coming years.

Pahad argued that China was opening markets and helping the continent reap the benefits of its rich mineral and oil resources.

Source: Xinhua