China indeed remains a valued partner for Africa, particularly given the fragile global political economic situation, said former senior South African diplomat Gert Johannes Grobler.

Grobler, who served as South Africa's ambassador to Spain, Japan and Madagascar and is now a senior research fellow at the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University, was speaking at the online Vision China event organized by China Daily on Wednesday.

"In fact, Africa and China are now as we speak busy charting the way forward on cooperation in the post-pandemic era as was illustrated by the outcome of the successful, extraordinary China and Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19," he said.

Hailing China as "a reliable partner for Africa", the former diplomat said that China has always honored its commitments in an efficient, pragmatic and result-oriented manner.

"Africa knows that China is prepared to continue to share its development experience with Africa as a friend in need in the challenging times we're living and the challenging road ahead," Grobler said.