PORLAMAR, Venezuela, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- African countries are ready to play their roles in the construction of a new South-South cooperation model with Latin America, an official from the African Union Commission said on Saturday.

At the second Africa-South America Summit (ASA), Jean Ping, chairman of the commission, said that the way to build the new model was to boost friendship and exploit the real power of both continents.

Ping also urged materialization of the agreements reached during the1st ASA Summit in Abuja in 2006.

"We should not conform with a diplomatic and political rhetoric because this time the credibility of the South-South cooperation is in risk", Ping said.

According to the chairman, this summit was held in the frame of a wonderful alliance formed between two continents, an alliance that has been fed by similar historical characteristics, same economic aspirations and the wish to establish a new international order.

Africa has the will to walk on the path of economic growth, during which a joint work based on mutual respect is needed, Ping said

The two-day summit which started on Saturday has drawn 15 African and six Latin American leaders.