China said Thursday that it was prepared to step up cooperation with the European Union on development in Africa, but warned that African opinions should be fully respected in the process.
"We are willing to discuss with the EU enhancing cooperation and exchanges on the African issue," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told journalists.
"We also believe that the international community, when seeking to enhance cooperation on Africa, should respect and heed fully the opinions of the African side."
Jiang was commenting on a proposed plan by the European Commission to cement a partnership with China on African development as the Asian giant's influence in the resource-rich continent expanded.
EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel said Wednesday he would present partnership plans after his first official visit to China in March. He did not elaborate.
"The aim is to reinforce the partnership with China in Africa," Michel said. "Africa has become a sought-after continent rather than a seeking continent."
Asked what interest China would have in such a partnership, Michel said the "African elite" was becoming aware about China's growing interests on the continent, which "would inevitably incite reactions."
"I have the impression that this idyllic relation between Africa and China is inevitably going to end," he said.
