China's top legislator
Wu
Bangguo, who is on an official goodwill visit to Kenya, held
talks in Nairobi with Kenyan National Assembly Speaker Francis Ole
Kaparo Saturday on bilateral relations, China-Africa relations and
other issues of common concern.??
Wu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing
Committee, said enhancing Sino-Kenyan friendly relations and
deepening exchanges and cooperation in various sectors are in the
fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples and
beneficial to maintain peace and development in the region and the
rest of the world.
He said China is willing to maintain the impetus of high-level
visits with Kenya in order to strengthen mutual understandings and
trust, deepen cooperation in economic and trade sectors, and
improve coordination on multilateral occasions in protecting the
interests of developing countries.
Wu said the
China and Kenya endured a lot of dramatic changes in the
international stage and have achieved steady development in various
sectors since they established diplomatic ties in 1963.
The chairman said China highly valued its relations with Kenya,
an influential East African country that plays an important role in
the regional and international
affairs.???
"The purpose of my visit is to further promote the development
of Sino-African overall relations," he added.
On the parliamentarian exchanges, Wu said the NPC and Kenya's
National Assembly have maintained ever-increasing exchanges to play
a unique and important role in the development of relations between
the two nations and two peoples.?
Wu pointed out that China and Kenya, though with different
social, historic and cultural backgrounds, face the common task of
promoting democracy and legalization construction.?
"The NPC is willing to enhance contacts and exchanges between
leaders of the two parliaments, and between their special
committees and various groups on legalization, in an effort to
contribute to the overall development of bilateral relations in the
new century," he added.
Wu also reaffirmed China's position on the Taiwan issue, saying
the Taiwan issue concerns China's sovereign and territory integrity
and the national sentiment of the 1.3 billion Chinese, including
those in Taiwan.
Wu praised the Kenyan government in its steadfast support to the
one-China principle and China's reuniting cause, stressing that
such a support is the political foundation for maintaining and
further developing Sino-Kenyan relations.
Kaparo said China, one of the countries that recognized and
established diplomatic relations with Kenya at ambassador's level
at the earliest time, is a sincere and reliable friend of
Kenya.
The speaker appreciated China's long-term assistance to Kenya in
various sectors and expressed the willingness to enhance the
friendly parliamentarian exchanges as part of the effort to boost
the development of bilateral relations.
Kaparo stressed that the Kenyan government, supported by the
parliament, adheres to the one-China policy and will make no change
on this issue.
Before the meeting, Wu met with the staff of the Chinese Embassy
in Kenya and representatives from Chinese companies, agencies and
the Chinese community living in Kenya.
After the talks, Wu, accompanied by his wife Zhang Ruizhen and
Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Redi, attended a
welcome banquet held by Kaparo.
Kenya is the first leg of Wu's four-nation African tour, which
will also take him to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Nigeria. It is the first
visit to Africa by China's top legislator since the country's new
leadership took office in early 2003.
(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2004)
