Chinese, African foreign ministers pledge stronger ties

CHANGSHA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday met respectively with some African counterparts who came to China for the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province.

These African foreign ministers include the Republic of the Congo's Jean-Claude Gakosso, South Africa's Ronald Lamola, Djibouti's Abdoulkader Houssein Omar, Ghana's Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, Niger's Bakary Yaou Sangare, Guinea-Bissau's Carlos Pinto Pereira, Nigeria's Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Burkina Faso's Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore, and Ethiopia's Gedion Timothewos.

When meeting with Gakosso, Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China is willing to work with the Republic of the Congo to safeguard each other's core interests and consolidate political mutual trust, promote the upgrading of economic and trade cooperation, and strengthen exchanges on state governance.

Gakosso said the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) brings hope for Africa to break free from the vicious cycle of poverty and backwardness and achieve independent development, and the Republic of the Congo will continue to actively participate in the BRI and firmly abide by the one-China principle.

When meeting with Lamola, Wang said China is willing to work with South Africa to consolidate political mutual trust, welcomes South Africa's greater role on international and regional stages, supports South Africa's fulfillment of duties under its Group of 20 presidency, and is ready to join hands with South Africa to safeguard common interests of the developing countries.

Lamola said the FOCAC has yielded fruitful achievements and contributed to the development of African countries over the 25 years since its establishment. South Africa looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in various fields, including economy and trade, energy, human resources training, and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.

When meeting with Omar, Wang said China stands ready to work with Djibouti to fully implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit and the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state, noting that China will continue to support Africa in strengthening solidarity and pursuing self-reliance, and in resolving African issues in African way.

Omar said Djibouti highly values its strategic partnership with China, firmly supports multilateralism and opposes unilateralism, and will enhance coordination with China to jointly address challenges.

When meeting with Ablakwa, Wang said China and Ghana established a strategic partnership last year, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations. China stands ready to work with Ghana to deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the cause of China-Africa friendship, and uphold multilateralism in opposition to unilateralism.

Ablakwa said as China has become Ghana's largest trading partner, Ghana looks forward to deepening cooperation with China in various fields, and will continue to adhere to the one-China principle and consolidate the strong partnership between the two countries.

When meeting with Wagner, Wang called on both sides to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, saying that China is willing to help the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in transforming its resource advantages into development advantages, and China's super-large market will always be open to the DRC.

Wagner said that the DRC firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to deepen mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation with China, adding that the DRC actively supports the BRI and other global initiatives proposed by China.

When meeting with Sangare, Wang said that China-Niger relations are part of South-South cooperation, and China is willing to carry forward the traditional friendship between the two countries and enhance mutual trust. Wang expressed the hope that Niger will safeguard the security and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and citizens in Niger.

Sangare said Niger firmly adheres to the one-China policy, regards cooperation with China as a priority, attaches great importance to security issues, and is willing to enhance mutual trust and maintain dialogue in the spirit of mutual respect.

When meeting with Pereira, Wang said that Guinea-Bissau took reciprocal measures in the face of the U.S. tariff hikes, and the Global South should stand together, resist unilateralism and protectionism to safeguard international fairness and justice.

Pereira thanked China for its long-term assistance to Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea-Bissau will continue to work with China to expand practical cooperation and achieve win-win results in the spirit of mutual support.

When meeting with Tuggar, Wang said under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the relationship between China and Nigeria is increasingly of global importance, adding that China is willing to share development opportunities with Nigeria.

Tuggar hailed the productive Nigeria-China relationship, expressing willingness to further deepen cooperation with China across various fields to advance their comprehensive strategic partnership.

When meeting with Traore, Wang said facts have proven that the resumption of diplomatic ties between China and Burkina Faso fully serves the fundamental and long-term interests of Burkina Faso and its people. China is willing to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with Burkina Faso and encourages Chinese enterprises to invest and establish businesses there, Wang said, expressing the belief that Burkina Faso will ensure the safety of Chinese companies and personnel.

Traore said Burkina Faso and China have elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership last year. Burkina Faso highly commends China for demonstrating leadership in supporting Africa's development, thanks China for its support since the resumption of diplomatic ties, and is willing to deepen sincere and friendly cooperation with China, Traore said.

When meeting with Timothewos, Wang said China and Ethiopia have worked together to achieve early results in implementing the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, bringing more tangible benefits to the Ethiopian people. China is willing to strengthen strategic communication with Ethiopia, promote common development through mutually beneficial cooperation, and safeguard shared interests through solidarity and collaboration, he added.

Timothewos said Ethiopia and China have achieved fruitful results in practical cooperation, setting a model for the Global South. He expressed gratitude for China's firm support on Ethiopia's core interests and valuable assistance to Africa's development, and reiterated Ethiopia's adherence to the one-China principle. ■