China supports African rapid response forces

BEIJING – The Chinese government has said that it is supporting African countries in the development of rapid crisis response forces.
Spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Hong Lei said China was always a constructive participant in Africa’s peace and security issues.
Hong added that China had in recent years, provided support and assistance to the African Union (AU) for peacekeeping operations in Mali, Somalia and other African countries.
The spokesman said that rapid response forces and regular armies would help Africans to solve their own security problems.
According to him, China and AU discussed peace and security cooperation under the framework of China-AU strategic dialogue in October this year.
Hong said China was willing to continue to support the efforts of AU, African sub-regional organisations and African countries to safeguard their own peace and security. (Xinhua/NAN)