Chinese President Xi Jinping and President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso jointly announced the upgrade of bilateral ties to a high-level community with a shared future in Beijing on Thursday.
The announcement was made during Xi's meeting with Sassou, who is in China for commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
Xi hailed the relationship between China and the Republic of the Congo as a fine example of China-Africa friendship.
The Republic of the Congo, the first country to reach consensus with China on the early harvest arrangement of the agreement on economic partnership for shared development, will soon benefit from the zero-tariff policy, Xi said, adding that new advances will be made in bilateral trade, investment, and cooperation.
Noting that the Republic of the Congo is the first African country to ratify the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation, Xi said the building of the high-level community with a shared future between China and the country should adapt to the times and trends, and break new ground while upholding fundamental principles.
Both sides should leverage the political advantages of friendship and mutual trust, adhere to seeking truth from facts and pursuing mutual benefit, win-win cooperation and sustainable development, explore new paths for cooperation, and enhance the impetus for cooperation and development, Xi said.
Xi noted that since the Republic of the Congo began to serve as the African co-chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), it has worked actively with China to implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing summit, and made gratifying achievements.
China is willing to work with the African side to implement 10 partnership actions, foster new growth drivers, such as green industries, e-commerce and e-payment, and artificial intelligence, and improve and upgrade China-Africa cooperation, he said.
Noting that changes and turbulences are interweaving in the current international landscape, Xi said China and Africa, both important members of the Global South, should shoulder the historical responsibility of safeguarding international fairness and justice, maintaining world peace and promoting common development, and join hands to promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
Sassou said China successfully held the event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, fully demonstrating the courage of the Chinese people and the unity of people around the world, adding that it is a great honor to participate in the event and work with China to maintain peace and create the future.
The elevation of the relationship between the Republic of the Congo and China to a high-level community with a shared future has established a new framework for common prosperity and development for both sides, he said.
Sassou said the Republic of the Congo firmly adheres to the one-China principle and looks forward to close cooperation with China in various fields to inject strong impetus into bilateral relations.
As a FOCAC co-chair, the Republic of the Congo is willing to work with China to push for greater development of China-Africa cooperation and contribute to the economic and social development of African countries, he said.
Noting that the Republic of the Congo fully agrees with the Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi, Sassou said the great initiative will help promote the establishment of a more just and reasonable international governance system, and benefit Global South countries. The Republic of the Congo highly appreciated China's implementation of the zero-tariff policy on African countries and is willing to seize the new opportunities brought by the trade policy between Africa and China, he said.
Xi, Sassou announce elevating bilateral ties
Xi, Sassou announce elevating bilateral ties
