The Chinese government has invited five African nations, which do not have diplomatic ties with China, to participate in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) as the observers, organizers of the forum said Wednesday.

"The FOCAC is a mechanism between China and those African countries with diplomatic ties with China," Xu Jinghu, who is in charge of Africa Department of Chinese Foreign Ministry, told a briefing on FOCAC.

Ministerial-level delegations are invited as observers to the summit, Xu said.

The five countries include Burkina Faso, Swaziland, Malawi, Gambia, Sao Tome and Principe.

Scheduled for November 3-5, the summit, also the 3rd Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC, will focus on the subjects of "friendship, peace, cooperation and development".