A Chinese medical team arrives at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Ethiopia to help the country in its battle against COVID-19 on April 16 (XINHUA)

Political parties and figures from African countries speak highly of China's concrete actions to help them fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, which has injected confidence for African countries to defeat the virus.

In their messages sent recently to the Communist Party of China (CPC), they noted that the African and Chinese peoples have affinity for each other, and the the united efforts to combate COVID-19 have enhanced China-Africa friendship. African countries are willing to work with China to build a community of common health for humanity, they said.

In his message, Bashiru Ally, General Secretary of Tanzania's ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), said that the epidemic is more complex and destructive than ever before, and to overcome it requires joint efforts from all over the world, where China has played an exemplary role in pushing international cooperation.

A friend in need is a friend indeed, he said, noting that the CPC and the Chinese Government have stayed committed to maintaining the Africa-China solidarity, taking actions to support the anti-virus fight by Tanzania and other African countries. While voicing gratitude, he said that CCM is ready to work with other African political parties to enhance the traditional Africa-China friendship and the spirit of solidarity and mutual support so as to jointly defeat the virus.

John Boadu, General Secretary of Ghana's governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), said Ghana deems its relations with China a diplomatic priority, and that it is grateful for China’s sincere support to its national development.

He added that China has made full use of its institutional advantages to achieve a sustained progress in epidemic prevention and control.He thanked China foe being among the first in the world to help Africa, providing important experience and medical supplies to Ghana. "We hope that China will continue to share with us its wisdom in coordinating epidemic prevention and control as well as socio-economic development," he said.

Thierno Doura Balde, commissioner for China affairs with Senegal's Alliance for the Republic Party and a special presidential advisor, said his country thanks China for overcoming its own difficulties as well as taking a good care of the Senegalese personnel in China.

Members of the Chinese medical team unload their luggage from the plane at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe on May 11 (XINHUA)

The Africa-China friendship has stood the test of history and time, he said, adding that he hopes China will continue to support Africa's fight against COVID-19, deepen medical and health cooperation and work together to build an Africa-China health community.

At the same time, he expressed hope that China will continue to play the important coordination role within the framework of the United Nations, the Group of 20 (G20) and other organizations, work to strengthen and improve the global public health governance and lead in helping developing countries to cope with the pandemic and economic fallouts.

Political assistant of Djibouti People's Rally for Progress Party General Secretary, Moumin Ismail Abdillahi said that Africa-China relations are based on comprehensive win-win cooperation, adding that China has always been a sincere friend of Africa, whose help is necessary for African countries' development.

Djibouti thanks China for providing assistance to support Africa's anti-epidemic efforts, and he said himself is willing to become a spokesperson for the Djibouti-China friendship with a strong confidence that the profound Africa-China friendship will be strengthened during jointly fighting COVID-19.

Baudelaire Ndong Ella, Gabonese Ambassador to China, said that the peoples of Gabon and China have developed a time honored friendship. The bilateral relationship is based on sincerity, practice, mutual trust and respect, and has always held the principle of mutual benefit. In the face of COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, the two peoples have linked their hearts and offered timely help to each other, he said.

Gabonese are grateful for the anti-epidemic material assistance supported by CPC and the Chinese Government, and Gabon stands ready to deepen the two countries' comprehensive partnership, which is based on the community with a shared future for China and Africa, to get new win-win achievements, which could benefit the two peoples, the ambassador said.

Ace Magashule, General Secretary of African National Congress of South Africa, Umatu Napoleon Koroma, General Secretary of Sierra Leone People's Party, Stephen Bwansa, Representative of Congo People's Party for Construction and Democracy, Gaddafi Nassur, Member of the National Resistance Movement Organization Central Executive Committee of Uganda (NRM) and the Chairperson of the NRM Youth League, Kadara Swaleh, Kenyan Jubillee Party Director of Political Affairs, Assefa Tekle, Chairman of Ethiopian Prosperity Party's Youth League, Maquento Lopes, Director of the International Relations of the MPLA Central Committee and some other political party delegates also noted that strengthening solidarity and cooperation is the effective way to solve this global crisis.

According to them, China has showed the world positive examples through practical actions, and they are grateful for China's assistance to help Africa contain the spread of COVID-19, noting that cooperation makes the hearts of Chinese and African get closer. They are all willing to become the envoys to maintain Africa-China solidarity and friendship, and are dedicated to build a closer community with a shared future for China and Africa.