China denies stealing data from AU building: FM

Chinese Foreign Ministry denied on Tuesday reports that China was stealing data from the Chinese-built African Union (AU) building, saying that "the cooperation between China and Africa will not be disrupted by groundless report."

"China helped construct the African Union building as requested, which was a significant move for China to support the integration and self-improvement of Africa. And the African Union and African countries praised the building," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a daily briefing on Tuesday.

"We never interfere with the internal political affairs in Africa, and never damage the interests of the African countries. The cooperation between China and Africa will not be disrupted by a groundless report from Le Monde," Hua said.

The French newspaper said China had bugged the building it had built and gifted to the AU in 2012 and had been downloading data from servers in the building.

Kuang Weilin, head of the Chinese mission to the AU, told reporters in Ethiopia the "absurd" claim in France's Le Monde was "very difficult to understand," BBC reported.

"There's nothing to be spied (on) because (the) China-Africa relationship is very strategic, comprehensive," Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said on the sidelines of the 30th AU summit at the AU headquarters, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

AU Commission Chair Moussa Faki told a press conference at the end of the summit that he did not find any sign that the AU building was being spied upon, Xinhua reported.

"The African people know best whether China and Africa have good cooperation and they have the hold to speak. China will carry on the right balance of ethics and profit and a sincere and hospitable view to conduct cooperation with Africa in an effort to promote more achievements," Hua said on Tuesday.