ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Growing China-Africa cooperation in peace and security demonstrates the overall deep partnership between Africa and China, Sierra Leone's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Alie Kabba said Thursday.

Kabba, in an exclusive interview with Xinhua, said that the growing China-Africa cooperation in the area of peace and security "is a demonstration of the deep partnership between the two sides."

"It is time when the focus on peace and security in Africa is at the central stage in the African Union's efforts to make sure that Africa becomes a continent where there is no conflict, and we have the capacity to prevent and resolve conflicts," Kabba said.

"The opportunity to having China and Africa round the table to talk about peace and security in Africa is a demonstration of the deep partnership between the two sides," the foreign minister stressed.

Kabba also commends the progresses made in the implementation of the China-Africa Peace and Security Initiative as part of the commitments made by African and Chinese leaders during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) last September.

"We welcome this initiative, because it shows the long-term commitment of China to make sure that Africa is a continent with a focus on long-time development and, therefore, the focus on peace and security is part of the efforts to create a condition for the rapid aspiration of the pace of development in Africa," he said.

The foreign minister, who is in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa to take part at the 34th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council currently underway at the headquarters of the AU from Feb. 7 to 8, also hailed the overall engagement of China in the African continent.

"Overall, the state of cooperation between Africa and China is excellent," Kabba said, adding "Excellent precisely, because for a long time China has been a consistent and reliable partner of Africa."

"All African countries express similar opinion. In fact, the common consensus in Africa is that China is a true friend of Africa, and we see the opportunity in peace and security sector as one more step forward in deepening the ties," he affirmed.

"When we look at the whole continent in terms of infrastructure, education, agriculture, healthcare and in all these areas China is playing an active role as a major contributor towards the development of Africa," he added. Enditem

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