BEIJING, July 18 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday paid warm tribute to Nelson Mandela for his 95th birthday, and wished the former South African president a speedy recovery.

Praising Mandela's tenacity in fighting the illness that has hospitalized him since June 8, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a written press release that China has always been concerned about Mandela's heath condition.

"We sincerely hope he can conquer disease and recover at an early date," said the spokeswoman.

Mandela is the founder of the new South Afria and a world-renowned statesman, Hua said, adding that he made an historic contribution to the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Africa.