BEIJING - China hopes its energy cooperation with Africa will be fairly and objectively evaluated by the outside world, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said Friday.

Liu made the comments in response to a question on China-Africa energy cooperation at a regular press conference in Beijing.

Liu said it is one of the cornerstones of China's foreign policy to strengthen friendly cooperative relations with Africa.

China has been committed to developing economic and trade relations with Africa on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and common development.

China-Africa economic cooperation has effectively promoted African countries' economic and social development and brought substantial benefits to the African people, he said.

He stressed that energy cooperation is neither the whole content of China-Africa cooperation, nor the starting point of China's policy toward Africa.

China has fully adhered to international practices and market rules in meeting its rational needs for energy and resources, he said.

China has also been committed to helping relevant African countries enhance their self-reliance capacity and bringing benefits to their people, he added.

"We hope the outside world can give an objective and fair comment on China's energy and resources cooperation with Africa," he said.

According to Liu, Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), will pay a goodwill visit to Ethiopia and attend the opening ceremony of the 18th African Union (AU) Summit from January 27 to 29.

He said China has always attached great importance to the friendly cooperative relations with the AU and African nations, and China has regarded these relations as an integral part of the new China-Africa strategic partnership.

Liu praised the positive momentum of the development of China-AU relations, which features frequent high-level visits, deepened cooperation in various fields and mutual support on major and core issues of each other's concern.

He said that with China's help, the AU's 20-story Office Complex and the Conference Center will stand as a new monument to the friendship between China and Africa.

China is ready to work with the AU to deepen strategic mutual trust and enhance cooperation in various areas, in a bid to further advance their relations, he said.