China is willing to work with African countries to inherit and carry forward the spirit of China-Africa friendly cooperation and build a closer high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the ministry, made the remarks when asked to view the current China-Africa relations and prospects for China-Africa cooperation, at a regular press briefing.

Noting that leaders and foreign ministers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone and other African countries visited China recently and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang attended the Africa Day reception in Beijing, Mao said relations between China and African countries continue to reach new heights and have entered a new phase of building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.

Bilateral exchanges and cooperation have entered a "fast lane," showing vigor and vitality, she said.

As the largest developing country and the continent with the most developing countries, China and Africa need to strengthen solidarity and cooperation more than ever, Mao noted.

China will work with African countries to practice true multilateralism, firmly safeguard each other's legitimate and reasonable rights and interests and positively advance the modernization causes with different characteristics, she said.

Mao also said China will jointly promote the reform of the global governance system and strive to achieve common security with African countries, so as to set an example for promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

(Cover: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends and addresses the reception celebrating the Africa Day in Beijing, capital of China, May 25, 2023. /Xinhua)