BUJUMBURA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- China has remained Burundi's friend even in the latter's hard times, Burundian civil society groups said Friday, a week after the handover of the China-aided Burundian state house.

China has been on Burundi's side at political and diplomatic aspects, Jean Marie Nduwimana, chairman of Integral Platform for Civil Society of Burundi, told Xinhua in an interview in Bujumbura, the commercial capital of Burundi.

China supports Burundi on the international arena against "unfair resolutions" on the central African country, he said.

"All that shows that Burundi has true friends who want to help us and who help us reach sovereignty," he added.

Chinese Ambassador to Burundi Li Changlin and Burundian Foreign Affairs Minister Ezechiel Nibigira on Feb. 14 signed a handover document on the China-aided Burundian state house. The complex, with a total construction area of over 9,900 square meters, consists of the president's office building, rooms for guards and equipment, and watchtowers.

"We highly appreciate the donation of the state house which is a prestigious and big infrastructure. It reflects a good image of national sovereignty," said Hamza Venant Burikukiye, chairman of Coalition of Associations of People Infected and Affected by HIV/AIDS.

This infrastructure "concretizes" the sovereignty of Burundi, said Burikukiye.

All Burundian citizens should rejoice for excellent Sino-Burundian friendship, he added.

They also commended China for supporting Burundian people's livelihood, in sectors of health, education, energy and infrastructure.