China will continue to work with Tunisia to further expand bilateral reciprocal cooperation, Chinese top advisor Jia Qinglin said in Tunis Tuesday.

 

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top advisory body, made the remarks during a meeting with Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi.

 

Sino-Tunisian trade volume last year exceeded US$400 million, a year-on-year increase of over 20 percent.

 

Jia pointed to the continuous rapid growth of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, especially in such fields as energy, telecommunications, household appliances, high-tech and tourism.

 

Jia, who arrived here Sunday on an official good-will visit, said there are huge potentials and broad prospects for bilateral cooperation as the two economies are complementary.

 

He said he hoped that the two sides will make further efforts to expand bilateral trade, increase two-way investment and actively promote tourism cooperation.

 

Echoing Jia's proposal, Ghannouchi said the Tunisian side will join the Chinese side in strengthening their cooperation in economy, trade, investment and tourism, and it welcomes more Chinese investment.

 

He said Tunisia is ready to work with China to implement the achievements made during last year's Beijing summit of the Forumon China-Africa Cooperation.

 

After the meeting, Jia and Ghannouchi attended a signing ceremony for five bilateral cooperation documents including an agreement on bilateral economic and technical cooperation.

 

Tunisia is the first leg of Jia's visit to four African countries, which will also take him to Ghana, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2007)