China to boost security links with continent

China will continue working with African countries to improve their ability to tackle complex security issues ranging from piracy to epidemics, the Ministry of National Defense said on Thursday.

The China-Africa security relationship is a key component of building a community with a shared future between the two sides, ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Wu Qian said at a monthly regular news briefing.

China will support African countries in personnel training, peacekeeping operations, public health, humanitarian aid, maritime rescue efforts and other areas, Wu said, adding that this will "create a new era in China-African security relations, and contribute to regional and world peace".