China and Angola on Wednesday reaffirmed their readiness for closer cooperation in areas of mutual interest, said a joint communiqué issued during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's two-day visit in Luanda.

 

At their talks, Wen and Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos expressed satisfaction with the good cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic and diplomatic fields, the communiqué said.

 

The two leaders reiterated their countries' readiness to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest, it said.

 

The two sides signed a number of agreements and legal documents on bilateral cooperation in the economic, technological, judicial, health and agricultural fields.

 

They also agreed to strengthen consultations on major international and regional issues in order to safeguard common interests and promote peace, stability and development.

 

Under an agreement, Angola will set up a consulate general in the Macao Special Administrative Region of China.

 

The Angolan government reiterated its adherence to the one-China policy, recognizing that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory.

 

The two sides spoke highly of the positive role of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in boosting the development of relations between China and African countries, and hoped that bilateral cooperation within the framework of the China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Economic Cooperation Forum in 2003 would be deepened.

 

Wen conveyed an invitation from Chinese President Hu Jintao to President Jose Eduardo dos Santos to attend the China-Africa Cooperation Forum summit to be held in China in November.

 

During his visit, Wen also met with his Angolan counterpart Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos and they exchanges views on issues related to bilateral cooperation. The Chinese premier also visited a hospital funded by China.

 

Angola is the fourth leg of Wen's seven-nation African tour, which has already taken him to Egypt, Ghana and the Republic of the Congo. He will also visit South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2006)