PRESIDENT MEETS WITH AFRICAN LEADERS

Xi Jinping holds talks with presidents and prime ministers, boosting bilateral relations following accomplishments of FOCAC Beijing Summit

Lesotho

China is ready to deepen friendship and cooperation with Lesotho and to strengthen exchanges between governments, political parties, legislators and all circles of society with the African country, President Xi Jinping said while meeting with Lesotho Prime Minister Tom Thabane.

Xi said China appreciates Lesotho’s firm adherence to the one-China principle and the two countries should support each other in their core interests and major concerns.

Both countries should also enhance exchanges and coordination in international and regional affairs to safeguard common interests of developing countries and bring welfare to both peoples, he said.

Thabane, on an official visit to China, was received by Premier Li Keqiang at a welcoming ceremony on Thursday. Five cooperative documents were signed between the two countries, with Li and Thabane as witnesses. The documents will boost cooperation in agriculture, human resources, food and firefighting equipment.

Li said China is willing to expand cooperation in trade, investment and other key areas such as energy, agriculture and infrastructure.

Chinese companies are encouraged to invest in the country, he said. The two countries should also safeguard multilateralism, centered on the United Nations, and free trade, he said. Thabane extended congratulations on the success of the FOCAC Beijing Summit. Lesotho cherishes its friendship and cooperation with China, he said, speaking highly of China’s achievements. Lesotho appreciates China’s support for its social and economic development, Thabane said.

Thabane said Lesotho firmly adheres to the one-China principle and welcomes Chinese companies to invest in his country. He added that the country will further improve the business environment for Chinese investors.

Gambia

China appreciates Gambia’s adherence to the one-China principle and is ready to continue steering bilateral ties in the right direction, President Xi Jinping said while meeting with Gambian President Adama Barrow.

Xi welcomed the first attendance of a Gambian president at FOCAC meetings, calling it of great significance to ChinaGambia relations, China-Africa relations and the development of the FOCAC.

China is satisfied with the fruits of the development of bilateral ties, which have been growing well and rapidly over more than two years since the two countries resumed diplomatic ties, Xi said.

Barrow said Gambia is pleased to return to the big family of China-Africa cooperation and will firmly uphold the one-China principle. He added that China has helped the nation improve telecommunications and road and transportation conditions — things they had wanted to do for many years but failed.

Burundi

China actively supports Burundi in independently pursuing a path of development that suits its own national conditions, and will continue to safeguard Burundi’s lawful interests in the United Nations and on other multilateral occasions, President Xi Jinping said when meeting with Burundi’s Second Vice-President Joseph Butore.

China welcomes Burundi’s active participation in construction of the Belt and Road, Xi said. Also, China hopes to deepen cooperation in infrastructure construction, energy and agriculture, assist Burundi in improving its food production capacity and continue to dispatch medical teams to Burundi, he said.

Butore said Burundi will be working with China so the two countries support each other on issues of their core interests and major concerns. He said the national development plan of Burundi has many aspects that are in line with the eight major initiatives announced by Xi.

Cape Verde

China and Cape Verde should better align development strategies and enhance cooperation in areas including infrastructure construction and the ocean economy, President Xi Jinping said while meeting with Cape Verde’s Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva.

Xi said China is willing to develop bilateral relations with the country — an archipelago off Africa’s western coast — into a model of equal treatment, solidarity and cooperation between big and small countries.

China appreciates Cape Verde’s support and participation in Belt and Road cooperation, and is ready to enhance cooperation and coordination over issues including climate change and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he said.

Correia e Silva said the initiatives Xi announced at the FOCAC Beijing Summit are encouraging. He added that he was inspired by his visit to the Binhai New Area in Tianjin and hopes to learn from China and develop partnerships.

Togo

While meeting with President of Togo Faure Gnassingbe, President Xi Jinping said China would like to enhance cooperation with Togo in seaports, agriculture, electricity and infrastructure.

China welcomes Togo to proactively participate in building the Belt and Road, Xi said, adding that the two countries’ cooperation should be upgraded to include integration of investment, construction and operations.

The two countries should boost peopleto-people exchanges and enhance cooperation in maritime security, Xi said, adding that China supports Togo in playing a bigger role in African affairs.

Gnassingbe congratulated the successful holding of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, which brings the Africa-China partnership to a new level.

African nations spoke highly of Xi’s eight initiatives, and they will work with China to build a community with a shared future for Africa and China, he said.

Central African Republic

China is willing to keep enhancing mutual political trust with the Central African Republic and help the country to improve food security and the lives of its people, President Xi Jinping said when meeting with Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera.

Xi said that the two sides should expand bilateral cooperation, and China will continue to dispatch medical teams to the country.

He said that China has always supported and actively assisted in the peace and national development of the Central African Republic, and wishes the country continuous new progress in achieving lasting peace and sustainable development.

Touadera said his country firmly adheres to the one-China principle and the Central African Republic is willing to step up cooperation with China under the frameworks of the eight major initiatives proposed by Xi at the FOCAC Beijing Summit and the Belt and Road Initiative.

Tanzania

China stands ready to strengthen the exchange of experience with Tanzania in areas like interparty contacts, governance and poverty alleviation, President Xi Jinping said when meeting with Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa.

Xi said China will also jointly push forward the implementation of key projects with Tanzania, boost people-to-people exchanges and cultural cooperation, and keep close communication on major global issues.

Xi said Tanzania was the first African country he visited after taking office as president in 2013.

He expressed China’s support for Tanzania’s efforts in safeguarding national rights, developing its economy as well as improving people’s livelihoods.

Majaliwa said Tanzania is willing to jointly develop the Belt and Road to boost the country’s infrastructure construction and industrialization and to elevate the bilateral relationship to a new level.

Uganda

China and Uganda should seize opportunities in jointly building the Belt and Road and implementing outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit to further exchange experience in governance and poverty reduction, President Xi Jinping said when meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

Xi said China has always seen Uganda as an important partner in Africa, and the two sides should ensure the proper implementation of infrastructure projects.

Xi said Museveni has long been taking part in and pushing forward China-Africa cooperation, and their meeting in Johannesburg in July also helped bring a new consensus in bilateral relations.

China is willing to help Uganda accelerate the industrialization process, he added.

Museveni said Africa’s integration process requires cooperation with China, and Uganda is willing to enhance cooperation with China in transportation, industrial zones, electricity and human resources.

Democratic Republic of Congo

China will continue to help boost the peacekeeping capability of the Democratic Republic of Congo and actively participate in the United Nations peacekeeping operation in the country, President Xi Jinping said when meeting with DR Congo Prime Minister Bruno Tshibala.

Xi said China has always firmly supported DR Congo in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and supports its pushing forward its domestic political process and combating outside interference.

Xi also said China is willing to work with DR Congo to deepen exchanges of experience and cooperation in all areas, to help the country realize its goal of becoming an emerging market economy by 2030.

Tshibala said the FOCAC Beijing Summit fully reflected China’s highly valuing Africa. His country is willing to support the joint construction of the Belt and Road, he said.