On September 6, Assistant Foreign Minister Lv Guozeng met with the joint press delegation of the English-speaking African countries received by the Information Department. Lv made highly positive remarks on China-Africa traditional friendship and the fruitful bilateral cooperation in various fields since the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Upon request, he introduced China's economic and social progress, expounded China's principled position on its peaceful development, democratic construction, Taiwan question and the UN reform and stressed that China firmly follows the road of peaceful development, will never seek hegemony, poses no threat upon any country and is willing to realize common development with the African countries. The journalists responded that they admire China's development achievements and hope to get a comprehensive understanding of China through this visit.

The 22 members of the press delegation come from 16 countries including South Africa, Namibia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Kenya and are received by the Information Department of the Foreign Ministry. In addition to Beijing, the delegation will also visit Ningxia and Shanghai.