CHINA is sure it will win over rival Taiwan’s lingering diplomatic allies in Africa one day but will not try to poach on them at a Sino-African conference in Beijing next month, says a senior Chinese diplomat said. China, which will host foreign and trade ministers of its 44 African diplomatic allies at a Sino-African Forum, has invited Taiwan’s eight friends on the continent – Burkina Faso, Chad, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Sao Tome, Senegal and Swaziland – to attend as observers. China regards Taiwan as a renegade province. – Reuters