As the largest trading partner and source of investment of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), China is willing to work with the country to advance high-quality cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang said in a meeting with Christophe Lutundula, the DRC's vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister on Monday.

Qin said that the DRC is a good friend and brother of China. China warmly welcomes President Felix Tshisekedi's upcoming state visit to China and looks forward to the meeting between the two heads of state, which will make top-level planning and point out the strategic direction for the development of bilateral relations in the next stage, Qin said.

He noted that China and the DRC are both big developing countries, and they are highly complementary in economy and enjoy broad cooperation prospects. 

China is willing to work with the DRC to advance the BRI cooperation, implement the consensus under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, said Qin, adding that he hopes the DRC could create a sound business environment and provide security guarantee for Chinese enterprises investing and operating in the DRC.

Firmly supporting each other's core interests is a valuable experience in the smooth development of the bilateral ties, and is also the core tenet of the strategic partnership between China and the DRC, Qin said.

China is willing to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with the DRC in the United Nations and other multilateral settings, resolutely safeguard the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and promote the development of international order and global governance in a more equitable and reasonable direction, he added.

For his part, Lutundula said that for more than 50 years since the normalization of relations between the two countries, bilateral relations have been developing and have strengthened over the years.

He appreciated China's important help and valuable support for the economic and social development of the DRC for a long time, adding that the DRC firmly adheres to the one-China policy.

Noting that President Tshisekedi will soon make a historic first visit to China, he said that the DRC is ready to promote practical cooperation between the two countries in various fields, strengthen communication and coordination with China to better benefit the two countries and peoples.