Chinese VP Han Zheng pledges to deepen ties with Ghana, Cyprus, Kiribati

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng said Friday that China is ready to steadily deepen its strategic partnerships with Ghana and Cyprus and advance China-Kiribati relations to new heights during separate meetings with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Kiribati President Taneti Maamau.

The meetings were held in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Enhancing cooperation under new circumstances

During his meeting with the Ghanaian president, Han said China is willing to work with Ghana to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, carry forward traditional friendship, consolidate political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, and steadily deepen the China-Ghana strategic partnership.

Han said the China-Ghana friendship was forged by the older generation of leaders of the two countries and has stood the test of time.

China and Ghana share broad common ground in promoting unity, self-reliance, development and revitalization among countries of the Global South, Han said, calling on the two sides to firmly support each other and enhance solidarity and cooperation under the new circumstances.

China is willing to advance cooperation with Ghana in areas including mining, green energy, vocational training and youth development, he said.

Han called on Ghana to continue providing a favorable business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in the country and make full and effective use of the zero-tariff policy to better achieve mutual benefit and common development.

Mahama said that Ghana-China relations enjoy a profound historical foundation and that Ghana sincerely appreciates China's valuable support and assistance over the years.

Ghana always adheres to the one-China policy and looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in fields such as trade, investment, mining and manufacturing, and enhancing people-to-people exchanges to continuously enrich bilateral relations, Mahama said.

Ghana supports China's global initiatives and stands ready to deepen multilateral coordination with China and cooperation within the framework of the African Union, he said, adding that the two sides will jointly promote a fairer and more just international order.

Deepening strategic partnership with Cyprus

In his meeting with Christodoulides, Han said China stands ready to work with Cyprus to build a more fruitful strategic partnership that delivers greater benefits to the two peoples.

Han said that although China and Cyprus differ in social systems and cultural traditions, the two countries have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, setting a good example of friendship and cooperation for the international community.

Noting that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the fifth anniversary of their strategic partnership, Han said that China is willing to work with Cyprus to consolidate their strategic mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and strengthen multilateral coordination.

Christodoulides said that Cyprus firmly adheres to the one-China policy and has always been a trustworthy partner of China. He looks forward to strengthening high-level exchanges with China, consolidating strategic mutual trust, deepening exchanges and cooperation in such areas as science and technology, agriculture and tourism, and enhancing multilateral coordination.

Advancing China-Kiribati ties

During his meeting with Kiribati President Taneti Maamau, Han called for efforts to advance China-Kiribati relations to new heights and better benefit the two peoples.

He said that since the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Kiribati in 2019, bilateral ties have developed rapidly, with deepening political mutual trust, fruitful practical cooperation and steadily expanding people-to-people exchanges.

Facts have shown that the resumption of diplomatic relations serves the fundamental and long-term interests of the two peoples, Han said.

China attaches great importance to China-Kiribati relations and stands ready to work with Kiribati to continue consolidating the political foundation of bilateral relations, expand practical cooperation in various fields, strengthen coordination in multilateral affairs and advance bilateral ties to new heights, so as to better benefit the two peoples, Han said.

Maamau said that Kiribati-China relations are based on mutual respect and mutual understanding and have continued to reach new heights since the resumption of diplomatic ties.

Kiribati firmly adheres to the one-China policy and looks forward to further consolidating the sound momentum of bilateral relations, strengthening communication and exchanges, and striving for more outcomes in cooperation across various fields to contribute to the development and prosperity of both countries and the well-being of their peoples, Maamau said.

(With input from Xinhua)