BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- China-Africa cooperation is a driving force behind African development, said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi here on Wednesday.

Defending China's engagement with Africa, Yang said that "if one wants to comment on China-Africa cooperation, he should first respect the will and views of the African people."

African countries and people welcome China, said Yang at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual parliament session.

"We're committed to a new strategic partnership with African countries and this partnership is based on sincerity, friendship, equality, mutual support, and common development," Yang said.

He said the African countries have the right to choose their own partners of cooperation, and they have the right to translate their advantage in resources into advantages in development, and to translate the potential advantages into real advantages through cooperation.

Source: Xinhua