Wu Bangguo (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress(NPC), the country's top legislature, shakes hands with Chairman of the African Union Commission Jean Ping in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, on Nov. 10, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Wu Bangguo pledged here Monday to further strengthen dialogue and cooperation with the African Union (AU).

    China is willing to enhance bilateral communication and coordination on international and regional issues with AU in a bid to push for improvement of China-Africa relations and safeguard the interest of developing countries, said Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC).

    On Monday, Wu visited the headquarters of the pan-African body and held very good talks with Jean Ping, chairperson of the AU Commission.

    During their talks, Wu spoke highly of AU's role on international and regional arena, saying that China has always supported the work of AU and its commission.

    China and Africa have enjoyed long-standing friendship over the past several decades, he said, adding that the 2006 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation opened a new page for China-Africa ties.

    During the two years after the summit, China and African countries made concerted efforts to fully carry out various follow-up activities of the summit, said Wu.

    Remarkable progress has been made in implementing the eight measures for China-Africa practical cooperation, announced by Chinese President Hu Jintao at the summit, bringing about tangible interests to both the Chinese and African people, according to the Chinese top legislator.

    China has attached great importance to the development of relations with Africa, he said. China is willing to make joint efforts with African countries and their people to deepen the traditional friendly relations, maintain the levels of aid to Africa, strengthen practical cooperation in all sectors and promote the new type of strategic partnership between China and Africa to develop in a healthy and stable way, he added.

    Wu is on a five-African nation tour. Ethiopia is the third leg of his two-week-long visit to Africa.

    For his part, AU Commission Chairperson Jean Ping said today is a very significant day in AU's history, adding that he is very happy to witness the groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of the China-aided AU New Conference Center with China's top legislator Wu.

    The Africa-China relations have stood the test of over 50 years, and both the African and Chinese people have always stood side by side, said Ping.

    The AU Commission is willing to make unremitting efforts to strengthen the traditional friendship and practical cooperation between Africa and China, he said.

    He reaffirmed the AU Commission and most African countries will as always adhere to the one-China policy and other principled positions like the Tibet issue.

China, AU mark start of construction of new AU conference center

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress(NPC), the country's top legislature, speaks at the ground breaking ceremony for the African Union Conference Center aided by Chinese government in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, on Nov. 10, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- To the sound of horns, the revving of engines by the assembled construction vehicles and much applause from the delegates, the start of the construction of the new conference center of the African Union (AU) in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa was officially declared on Monday by Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC).  Full story