GENEVA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government is firmly committed to strengthening its friendly cooperation with Africa and supporting the continent in achieving peace and development, a senior Chinese diplomat said here on Tuesday.

"China is the largest developing country and Africa is home to most developing countries. China-Africa cooperation is an important part of the South-South cooperation," said He Yafei, China's ambassador to the United Nations Office in Geneva.

Addressing a forum on Africa's peace and development, He said China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has been always supporting and participating in peacekeeping operations in Africa.

Since 1990, China has participated in 12 UN peacekeeping operations in Africa, providing more than 10,000 personnel. Now there are more than 1,600 military staff and civilian police from China in Africa, he said.

China supports the conflict-resolution efforts in Africa, participating actively in mediating activities in Darfur, Sudan and other parts of the continent, he added.

In addition, China has actively joined the international anti- pirates task force patrolling the waters off Somalia, and made important contribution on keeping the security of the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters.

On economic and social fronts, China, for over 50 years, has provided assistance to Africa to the best of its capability, according to the ambassador.

China has made 7.8 billion U.S. dollars of direct investments in Africa by 2008. By the end of 2009, China had built more than 900 infrastructure and public welfare projects, sent 17,000 medical personnel to 47 African countries, where they had treated 200 million patients, provided over 20,000 government scholarships.

In order to further strengthen the friendly cooperation between China and Africa, to jointly meet the challenge of economic globalization and to promote common development, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was established by China and friendly African countries in 2000, the ambassador said.

Since its establishment, the Forum has held one summit and four ministerial conferences, with Chinese leaders announcing a lot of measures to strengthen cooperation with Africa and support African development.

"This year marks the 10th anniversary of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. We believe that this Forum will play an even bigger role in facilitating cooperation and relationship between China and Africa," He said.