China is always glad to see Africa building diversified cooperation partnerships and welcomes the international community, including the U.S., to increase its attention and investment in Africa and carry out equal and mutually beneficial cooperation, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

The remarks were made by the ministry's spokesperson Wang Wenbin at a regular press briefing when he was asked to respond to a U.S. official's claims that what China does in Africa is not "transparent" enough and can eventually lead to the "destabilizing" of Africa.

Wang said Africa is not a wrestling ground for major-country rivalry nor an object suppressed arbitrarily by any country. Supporting Africa in realizing development is the shared responsibility of the international community, he said.

Wang called for the U.S. side to treat China-Africa cooperation with an open mind.

He said African countries and people have the wisdom and ability to choose partners that are in their own interests, and they are in the best position to comment on who really does good for them. 

China is a good friend, good partner and good brother of Africa, he said, adding that the cooperation between China and Africa is equal, mutually beneficial, open and fruitful, which is sincerely welcomed by African people. 

Wang urged the U.S. side to respect the will of the African people and take concrete actions to help Africa's development rather than smearing and attacking other countries. 

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China believes Africa is the place for international cooperation instead of major-power competition

(Cover: The Chinese Foreign Ministry. /CFP)