Equatorial Guinean President Mbasogo Meets With Chinese Counterpart Hu Jitao
Hu Jintao Meets with Equatorial Guinean Counterpart
BEIJING – On the afternoon of August 18, 2010, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with his Equatorial Guinean counterpart Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo at the Great Hall of the People.
Hu first thanked Obiang for extending condolences to China over the devastating mudslides in Zhouqu, Gansu and putting off the national pavilion day for Equatorial Guinea at the World Expo in Shanghai due to the national mourning day on Aug. 15 for victims in the disaster.
Hu said that the friendship between both peoples goes back to the 1970s. Bilateral relations have become even firmer since the establishment of diplomatic ties four decades ago. Both sides have conducted exchanges and cooperation in a wide range of areas including politics, economy, trade, culture, education and health with fruitful results achieved. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. Hu said both sides should not only review the past and look to the future, but also seize the opportunity, enhance cooperation and jointly open up new prospects for bilateral ties.
Hu pointed out that political mutual trust is the basis of bilateral friendly cooperation. He suggested the two countries maintain high-level visits, enhance exchanges at all levels and offer supports on major issues concerning each other’s core interests. The two states should enhance contact and coordination on international and regional issues such as reform of the United Nations Security Council, climate change and the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, he said. Hu said that China supports Equatorial Guinea’s efforts in safeguarding its sovereignty and security. Economic and trade cooperation is a priority area for both sides to strengthen cooperation.
China supports Equatorial Guinea’s efforts to accelerate national development and will continue to offer assistance within its capability to Equatorial Guinea. Hu also urged the two states to actively explore new areas and ways of cooperation, tap potential and push economic and trade cooperation for new outcomes through the bilateral economic and trade mixed committee and other mechanisms and platforms. Calling humanities cooperation an important part of bilateral collaboration, Hu urged both sides to step up exchanges in culture, education, healthcare and human resources training and promote all-round, in-depth development of bilateral ties.
Obiang once again offered condolences to the Chinese government and people over the heavy casualties and property losses caused by the devastating mudslides in Zhouqu. He said the Equatorial Guinean people are identified with the Chinese people over the disaster. Over the past 40 years, bilateral relations have been developing smoothly with friendly cooperative relations strengthened continuously, which Equatorial Guinea is satisfied with. Calling China an important cooperative partner of his country, Obiang said Chinese businesses have carried out cooperation in Equatorial Guinea and helped the country in its national construction over the years. China has made outstanding contributions to Equatorial Guinea’s economic progress and brought about changes to the country. The Equatorial Guinean government thanks for China’s help and welcomes more Chinese companies to invest in the country. Equatorial Guinea is committed to promoting national economic progress and is ready to work with China to further cooperation in economy, trade, humanities and human resources development in a bid to push bilateral ties to a new level, he said.
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, MOC International Trade Representative & Vice Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng and other officials attended the meeting.
