BRAZZAVILLE: Premier Wen Jiabao reiterated on Monday China has no "selfish interests" in co-operating with African countries, saying the partnership helps "autonomous development" for Africa.

Speaking at a news conference in Brazzaville following talks with President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Wen said China has been developing relations with Africa under principles of "mutual benefit" and "non-interference in Africa's internal affairs."

Wen arrived in Brazzaville on Monday afternoon local time for a two-day official visit the third leg of his seven-nation African tour, which has taken him to Egypt and Ghana and will also take him to Angola, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.

China always ties economic assistance to Africa with technological aid, Wen said. "The aim is to improve the capacity of African countries for autonomous development."

China will continue to develop relations of strategic co-operation with African countries by deepening mutual political trust, win-win economic collaborations and cultural exchanges, Wen said.

He told reporters the Chinese Government has decided to offer US$1 million in cash to the Africa Union where Sassou is holding the rotating chair to support its peace-keeping efforts in Sudan's Darfur region.

Besides, China will provide 20 million yuan (US$2.5 million) in humanitarian aid to the region to help relieve the living difficulties of local people, Wen said.

A series of co-operation documents and agreements were signed between China and the Republic of Congo on Monday in the wake of the official talks between the two leaders. The details were not made public.

According to a joint communiqu issued on Monday, the two countries pledged to work together to enhance co-operation in areas of agriculture, energy, telecommunications, transport and human resources development.

The two sides decided to strengthen partnership in international affairs and jointly safeguard the rights and interests of developing countries and promote world peace and development, the communiqu said.

China also offered to donate medicines for fighting malaria to the West African nation.

"Congo remains a friendly country with whom we have long had amicable relations," Wen said after meeting with Sassou.

"The president of the African Union will participate in the China-Africa summit," he added, referring to a meeting in China in November to promote relations between China and the African continent.

Before leaving Brazzaville for Angola, Wen visited one of the two hospitals built by China and staffed by Chinese medical workers and met Congolese high school students studying Chinese.

(China Daily 06/21/2006 page2)