Greater development synergy sought alongside Cote d'Ivoire
China and Cote d'Ivoire should take the building of Belt and Road as an opportunity to seek greater synergy between development strategies and promote high-quality and sustainable development of the two countries, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.
Xi made the remark in a meeting with Cote d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara, who is in Beijing for a state visit and the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Xi said the summit will stay committed to the building of an even stronger community with a shared future for China and Africa. The summit will be of major significance in advancing the further development of the China-Africa comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and enhancing the solidarity and cooperation among developing countries, he added.
Xi said that during the 35 years since the establishment of bilateral ties, the two countries have seen increasingly expanding cooperation that yielded remarkable outcomes. China appreciates Cote d'Ivoire's firm adherence to the one-China policy, and firmly supports its efforts to safeguard its rights and interests in sovereignty, security and development.
China supports Cote d'Ivoire in taking a path of development that suits its national conditions, and the two nations should offer firmer support to each other on issues related to their core interests and major concerns, Xi said.
They also should cope with security challenges effectively, and play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability in the West African region and the African continent, he said.
He added that they should step up coordination at the United Nations Security Council and work together to safeguard the legitimate interests of developing countries, including African nations.
Ouattara said China is Cote d'Ivoire's great friend and its people value the traditional friendship with the Chinese people.
He said Cote d'Ivoire fully supports the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Xi, and is willing to actively take part in it. The country will also encourage member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union to take part in building the Belt and Road.
Cote d'Ivoire speaks highly of China's efforts to safeguard the rights and interests of developing countries in multilateral affairs, and appreciates China's active participation in UN peacekeeping missions in Africa, he said.
Joint efforts with Sierra Leone to fight Ebola praised by world
China's principle of developing friendship with Africa will be unchanged despite the country's development and the rise of its international status, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.
Xi made the remark while meeting with Julius Maada Bio, president of Sierra Leone, in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
The two leaders witnessed the signing of documents by China and Sierra Leone covering such areas as economic and technological cooperation and jointly building the Belt and Road.
China has always deemed its cooperation with African countries an important basis for its diplomatic policies, and such principles will not be changed, Xi said.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 47 years ago, China and Sierra Leone have always been good friends, Xi said.
The joint efforts made by the people of China and Sierra Leone to fight Ebola have drawn compliments from the international community, Xi said.
China respects independent choices made by the Sierra Leonean people, Xi said, adding that China would like to boost high-level exchanges with the African country and enhance cooperation in such areas as infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, health and education.
Xi spoke highly of the efforts made by the Sierra Leonean president to develop bilateral relations and promote cooperation.
China cherishes the traditional friendship with Sierra Leone and would like to make joint efforts with the country to strengthen mutual trust, expand cooperation in all are-as and promote the comprehensive strategic partnership to benefit the people of both countries, Xi said.
Saying that the friendship between the two countries has stood the test of time in the past 47 years, the Sierra Leonean president expressed gratitude to China "for the many times you stood by us in very difficult times".
"I want to commit or reaffirm my administration's commitment to you and to the people of China that we will stand together at all times," he said.
Sierra Leone would like to learn from China's experience of development, strengthen bilateral relations, participate in building the Belt and Road, and enhance cooperation in education, fisheries, health and infrastructure, he added.
