China says African countries don't think cooperation adds to debt

China's President Xi Jinping (front C), South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa (front L), Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (front R), Kenyas President Uhuru Kenyatta (2nd row L), Togo's President Faure Gnassingbe (2nd row C), Malawi's President Arthur Peter Mutharika (2nd row R), Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio (back L) and Liberia's President George Weah (back C) attend a group photo session during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing on September 3, 2018. [Photo: AFP]

African leaders attending this week’s summit with China do not think that cooperation between the continent and Beijing has added to their debt burden, the Chinese government’s top diplomat said yesterday.