Tang, who is here to attend the annual high-level debate of the57th General Assembly session, made the statement as while meeting with his counterparts of key members of the African Union.

At the outset, Tang offered his warmest congratulations on the establishment of the African Union, formerly known as the Organization of African Unity, saying that the foundation of the union is a happy event both for Africa and China.

Tang also extended his thanks for the support from a lot of African countries in rejecting at the UN General Committee the so-called proposal on Taiwan's "participation" in the United Nations.

Under the UN Charter and international law, Taiwan, an inalienable part of China, can not get a seat at the United Nations, which groups sovereign and independent States.

There is no development in the world without the development in Africa, and the international community cannot reduce its attention to and the input in the issue of development while waging a war against terrorism, Tang said.

The international community should attach great importance to the negative impact of the globalization on Africa and be sincere in rendering aid to African countries, without political bias and strict strings, he said.

The Chinese foreign minister said he is scheduled to address a UN meeting to support "the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)," joining his African brothers in giving out reasonable appeals.

Present at the meeting were foreign ministers of South Africa, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, Mauritius, Mauritania, Namibia, Sierra Leone and Sudan, and the secretary-general of the African Union, Amara Essy.

South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, whose country holds the presidency of the African Union, spoke highly of the relations between Africa and China.

Many foreign ministers said that China has always attached great importance to the African continent, and Africa and China have a lot of interests in common.

Much can be accomplished in the Africa-China cooperation, they said, adding that the development in Africa depends on the efforts by African countries themselves, and also relies on support from the long-term cooperation partners such as China, they said.

Meanwhile, they said that they wish a great success of the Sino-African Cooperation Forum and they are looking forward to strengthening their cooperation with China in the United Nations and other international fields.

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2002)