The Chinese government will donate US$600,000 to the African Union (AU), Chinese envoy and Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhai Jun has said.

Of the money, US$300,000 will be earmarked for supporting AU development and the rest for AU's peacekeeping mission in Somalia, said Zhai in his meeting Saturday with the AU Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare.

Zhai extended Chinese leaders' greeting to Konare and handed him a congratulation letter addressed by Premier Wen Jiabao to the 9th AU summit opening on Sunday.

Zhai spoke highly of the significant role the AU has played since it was set up five years ago in various aspects including the maintenance of Africa's peace and security and coordination of African countries' foreign affairs positions.

The Chinese government will continue to support the AU in playing bigger role in regional and international affairs and will enhance cooperation with AU in various fields.

Konare spoke highly of the friendly relations between China and AU and African countries, expressing gratitude to China's sincere support and appreciation for China's active implementation of the decisions made at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in November last year.

AU will spare no efforts to join China in promoting the traditional friendship and cooperation between China and Africa, Konare said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 2, 2007)