African diplomatic envoys to China held a reception in Beijing Friday to mark the 44th anniversary of Africa Day.

On May 25, 1963, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was established, a historic event for the African people. The African Union (AU) formally succeeded the OAU in 2002.

Addressing the reception, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said since the AU was established five years ago, the trend of peace and stability in Africa has been strengthened, economic growth continued, and Africa's collective influence in the international arena has risen.

The Beijing Summit of China-Africa Cooperative Forum last year has become a milestone in the development of China-Africa relations, Yang said, adding that the full implementation of the decisions of the Summit will bring more benefits to African countries and peoples.

Cameroonian Ambassador to China Eleih-Elle Etian, also dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in China, said Chinese President Hu Jintao's African visit early this year and the annual meetings of African Development Bank held in Shanghai this May showed the vigor of the new type of strategic partnership between Africa and China.

To develop friendly relations of cooperation between China and Africa targets at nobody, and it should scare nobody, Etian said.

Source: Xinhua