Chinese President Hu Jintao met in St. Petersburg, Russia, on
Sunday with Denis Sassou-Nguesso, president of the Republic of
Congo, and Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki, president of South Africa.
Hu met with the two African leaders on the sideline of the G8
St. Petersburg summit. The three leaders came here to attend the
outreach session of the G8 summit, to be held on Monday.
During his meeting with Sassou-Nguesso, Hu said the Republic of
Congo is a trust-worthy friend of China, extending appreciation for
Congo's adherence to the one-China policy.
Hu said both countries have vowed to enhance strategic
cooperation, which symbolizes that the bilateral cooperation has
entered a new phase.
Sassou-Nguesso, whose country holds the current presidency of
the African Union, said China's assistance has embodied Chinese
people's sincere friendship toward Congo.
The Chinese president said the situation in Africa has seen good
changes and the African Union has played a leading role in
safeguarding the unity and resolving various difficulties of the
continent.
China attaches importance to the cooperation with the African
Union, said Hu, adding that China would continue to offer
substantial help in Africa's development.
Sassou-Nguesso said he was looking forward to the success of the
Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, to be held in November in
Beijing.
In his meeting with Mbeki, Hu said China attaches great
importance to its ties with South Africa, hoping that both sides
would join hands to lift the bilateral strategic partnership into a
higher level.
Mbeki said the economic cooperation between China and South
Africa is of vital importance to helping South Africa with
employment as well as to the national economic development at
large.
Hu said China would conduct more coordination and consultation
with African countries like South Africa, so as to make the Forum
on China-Africa Cooperation, due in November, successful.
Mbeki said Africa would join hands with China to tackle various
challenges Africa is facing.
(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2006)
