Liberia and China on Thursday issued a joint communiqué, reaffirming full support to each other and pledging unswerving efforts for further bilateral cooperation.

 

President Hu Jintao and Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf exchanged views on matters of mutual interest in a cordial and friendly atmosphere and reached broad agreement on building on the success of the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), said the joint communiqué issued during Hu's visit one-day to Liberia.

 

"Both sides agreed to increase friendly exchanges at various levels, enhance mutual trust and expand practical cooperation to further develop and accelerate China-Liberia friendship and cooperation," the document said.

 

Liberia reiterated its firm commitment to the one-China policy and its support of China's concept of "One Country, Two Systems" and every effort by the Chinese government to achieve national unification, it said.

 

"The Liberian side opposes any form of 'Taiwan independence', including 'de jure Taiwan independence', and opposes Taiwan to accede to any international or regional organization intended only for sovereign states," said the joint communiqué.

 

China pledged to continue to support the Liberian government's efforts in consolidating peace and stability and promoting national reconstruction and development.

 

"The Chinese government will continue to encourage Chinese businesses to invest in Liberia," it said.

 

The two sides agreed to broaden exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, health, agriculture, personnel training, strengthen cooperation in international affairs, promote South-South cooperation and North-South dialogue, and work for a harmonious world characterized by lasting peace and common prosperity for all peoples, said the document.

 

The two countries also agreed to work together to advance the new type of strategic partnership between China and Africa based on political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchanges.

 

President Hu, who arrived in Monrovia on Thursday morning from Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, is on an eight-nation Africa tour that will also take him to Sudan, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique and Seychelles.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 2, 2007)