Africans In China

On the afternoon of December 17, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with his Angolan counterpart Jose Eduardo dos Santos at the Great Hall of the People. The two heads of state agreed that China and Angola will work jointly to promote bilateral practical cooperation, and advance their friendship to a higher level.

During the meeting, Hu said the two peoples share profound traditional friendship. As early as the 1960s, the Chinese government and people firmly supported the Angolan people’s just struggle for national liberation. China forged diplomatic ties with Angola in 1983. The two sides have witnessed sound development of bilateral relations on the basis of sincerity, friendliness, equality and mutual benefit. Both sides have conducted cooperation on politics, economy, trade, education, health and judicature and maintain sound coordination in international and regional affairs. Hu also appreciated Angola’s adherence to the one-China policy and the support on issues related to Taiwan and Tibet, which touch the core interests of China.

Hailing the sound bilateral relations, dos Santos said that the cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic, trade and other areas has been developing smoothly with China being the largest trading partner of Angola. The cooperation between the two countries is mutually beneficial, he added. The Angolan people and government are grateful for China’s support on Angola’s defense against foreign aggression and efforts for national liberation and reconstruction work, he said. Dos Santos noted that China has scored development achievements in the areas of economy, science, technology and culture which attract world attention, praising China’s important role in the world arena.

Hu raised four proposals to deepen pragmatic cooperation for win-win results and common development between the two countries in the new situation. First, strengthen exchanges and dialogue and cement the political basis. Hu said the two countries should maintain exchanges of views on important issues of common concern, and keep the momentum of bilateral friendly exchanges at levels of senior leaders, government departments, legislative bodies and ruling parties. Second, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and expand the area of cooperation. The two sides should expand cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, the construction of infrastructure, energy and mineral resources, and communications and agriculture and actively explore new ways and new approaches of cooperation. China will send agricultural experts and technicians to Angola to help develop agriculture and increase grain production, under the framework of Forum on the China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and multilateral agricultural cooperation. China upholds that relevant mechanisms for cooperation should be established and improved to guide and coordinate the cooperation on economy and trade. Third, enrich humanities exchanges and cooperation. China urges the injection of vigor to China-Angola friendly and cooperative relations, which calls for the two countries to pay more attention to cooperation in the fields of culture, education, journalism, judicature and sports. Fourth, maintain multilateral cooperation and safeguard common interest. The two sides should give further play to the role of the political consultation mechanism between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries, cement communication and coordination within multilateral mechanisms, such as the United States, the World Trade Organization as well as the FOCAC, and strengthen coordination on important international and regional issues, so as to jointly handle challenges and push for the establishment of a more just and reasonable international political and economic order.

Dos Santos said China-Angola cooperation has set a good example for the developing countries in “South-South Cooperation”. Considering China as strategic partner of cooperation, Angola agrees to consolidate the bilateral relations, keep closer exchanges and expand cooperation on economy, trade, energy and infrastructure, he said. He said Angola is ready to work with China to expand areas and ways of cooperation. Chinese enterprises are welcome to join in the reconstruction and development of Angola, he said. Dos Santos also expressed hope that the two sides should enhance cooperation and coordination on issues concerning Africa, the United Nations and multilateral affairs to push for a more balanced development of the international political and economic order and jointly promote world peace, stability and development.

Following the talks, the two heads of state jointly attended a signing ceremony of a range of bilateral cooperation documents concerning economy, technology, culture and air transportation. Prior to the talks, President Hu Jintao held a welcoming ceremony for President dos Santos’s visit at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan, Vice Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress Yan Junqi, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Luo Fuhe, Vice Chairperson of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League (TSL) Central Committee Huang Zhixian, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Chairman of the State Development and Reform Commission (SDRC) Zhang Ping, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming and Chinese Ambassador to Angola Zhang Bolun attended the welcoming ceremony.