Boosting China-Africa friendship and all-round cooperation is a long-term and strategic decision China has made, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said in Beijing Monday.

"It is a natural choice for the two sides in pursuit of common development and prosperity," Tang made the remarks in an exclusive interview to Xinhua.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of diplomatic relations between New China and African countries. Tang said despite the long distance between China and Africa, their friendly exchanges have had a long history.

The founding of New China in 1949 ushered in a new era in China-Africa relations. In May 1956, China and Egypt established ambassadorial diplomatic relations, inaugurating China's diplomatic relations with Africa.

Since then, many African countries have established diplomatic relations with China as they gained independence. China now has diplomatic ties with 48 African countries.

"Over the past fifty years, the Chinese and African peoples have shared weal and woe, sympathized with and supported each other," Tang said.

Tang said China stood firmly with the African people and provided them with moral support and material assistance in their strenuous struggle to overthrow colonial rule and gain national liberation.

After African countries won independence, China has continued to support them in upholding sovereignty, safeguarding independence and promoting economic development.

"By doing so, China has contributed to Africa's political stability and socio-economic development," Tang said.

African countries have also offered valuable support to China. "Our African friends played an important role in restoring the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations," Tang said, noting that they gave China strong support in foiling anti-China motions introduced by some Western countries at the UN Human Rights Commission.

The vast majority of African countries adhere to the one-China principle and support China's reunification. They have helped China defeat many attempts by Taiwan to "participate in the United Nations" and to squeeze its way into the World Health Organisation and other international bodies. They also supported China in its bid to host the 2008 Olympics and the 2010 World Expo.

Tang said that in recent years, thanks to the joint efforts of the two sides, China-Africa relations have made new progress, which finds expression in enhanced political relations and closer cooperation in economy, trade, culture, education, and other fields.

"As this year is of special commemorative significance for the two sides, Chinese and African leaders have agreed to work together to lift China-Africa relations to a new level," Tang said.

To this end, the Chinese Government issued early this year the China's African Policy, calling for a new type of strategic partnership between China and Africa. This has received warm response from the African countries.

In April and June this year, President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao visited Africa respectively. On 3-5 November, the two sides will hold the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and its third Ministerial Conference.

Scores of African leaders will meet in Beijing for the Summit.

"I wish to point out in particular that, despite the profound changes both in the international environment, in China and in Africa in the past half century, China-Africa friendship has stood the test of time, gained in strength and is thriving with vigor and vitality," Tang said.

According to the State Councilor, the fundamental reason behind this is that the two sides have always treated each other with sincerity and as equals, and pursued mutual benefit, solidarity, cooperation and common development.

"This is the valuable asset fifty years of China-Africa friendly relations have left us and it will continue to drive the strong and long-term growth of China-Africa relations," Tang said.