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BEIJING, Apr 27 (Reuters) A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman angrily denied today that the country turns a blind eye to human rights abuses in places like Sudan in its search for oil to help power a booming economy.

Chinese trade helps improve people's living standards and economies and does not have a negative impact, Qin Gang told a regular news conference.

''We will not repeat the mistakes of the bloody pillaging and human rights abuses of the Western colonists in the past,'' Qin said. ''China is a responsible country. In the global arena we stress peace, cooperation and development.'' This week anti-poverty campaigner Bob Geldof said that rich countries must move fast to eradicate poverty in Africa before China seizes the initiative and ramps up investment in corrupt African governments.

The rocker-turned-activist said that unless the world's G8 group of rich countries delivered now on pledges made last year, African leaders would instead turn to Beijing, which has adopted a no-strings-attached approach to doing business in Africa.

Human rights groups have also slammed energy-hungry China -- the world's second largest oil consumer -- for investing in or aiding other countries with bad human rights records, such as Myanmar, often in return for access to oil and gas supplies.

Communist-ruled China has also been criticised for stepping in with a $3 billion oil-backed loan for Angola after the International Monetary Fund criticised Luanda for rejecting greater scrutiny of its finances.

''I don't care whose opinion it is, or what the source is, I hope they can produce conclusive evidence,'' said Qin, banging on his podium, refering to allegations that China is complicit in human rights abuses overseas. ''China is innocent.'' China has always supported peace in Sudan, he added, pointing to Chinese peacekeepers sent there under a UN mandate.

''Why does nobody mention this when they criticise us?'' Qin asked.

But he declined to comment further on a Chinese decision last week to join with Russia and Qatar in blocking UN sanctions against four Sudanese accused of war crimes in Darfur.

''We have all along supported peace and stability in Sudan,'' Qin said. ''I hope all countries of the world can be responsible, and that the media can be too.'' REUTERS CH PM1504