China Daily Global Edition (USA)
China, Republic of Congo ties enhanced
BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo — Wang Yang, China’s top political adviser, made an official visit to the Republic of Congo from Monday to Wednesday to further advance relations between the two countries.
During his meeting with Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso on Wednesday, Wang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, first conveyed President Xi Jinping’s best wishes.
Wang said Xi looks forward to having an in-depth exchange of views on the further development of bilateral ties and China-Africa relations with Sassou Nguesso during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in September.
Xi visited the Republic of Congo in March 2013 during his first African tour shortly after taking office. During Sassou Nguesso’s state visit to China in 2016, the two countries lifted their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, opening a new chapter in their relations.
Wang said his visit to the Republic of Congo, the first stop of his first overseas visit since taking office in March, showed the importance China attaches to its ties with the Republic of Congo and Africa.
China and the Republic of Congo have always supported each other’s core interests and issues of major concern and closely coordinated on international and regional issues so as to safeguard their common interests, Wang said.
China is willing to further enhance high-level exchanges of visits, boost mutual political trust and focus on cooperation of the Belt and Road Initiative with the Republic of Congo in the hope of jointly building a China-Africa community with a shared future, Wang said.
Calling the Republic of Congo “a firm friend of China”, Sassou Nguesso said his country spoke highly of the Belt and Road Initiative and the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity, both of which were proposed by Xi.
He said he expected to exchange views with Xi on state governance during the FOCAC Beijing Summit to further elevate bilateral ties and China-Africa ties.
During his talks on Tuesday with Pierre Ngolo, president of the Senate of the Republic of Congo, Wang said China and the Republic of Congo are good friends and partners.
He said the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as a longterm guiding principle for the Party and the thought was added to the CPC Constitution as well as China’s Constitution.
The CPC stands ready to share its experience on partybuilding and governance with the Congolese Party of Labor to forge through party-to-party cooperation a solid foundation for the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries, Wang said.
In meetings with Isidore Mvouba, speaker of the National Assembly, and Clement Mouamba, prime minister, Wang said the two countries have cooperated to great effect in such areas as infrastructure construction, energy and resources development, air transport and finance.
During his three days in Brazzaville, Wang visited jointcooperation projects, including Kintele, a demonstration village hosting the China-aided “Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages Project”, Mpila Middle School and the Sino-Congolese Bank for Africa.
Wang will also visit Uganda and Kenya.