Gambian president pledges to uphold one-China policy

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China and Gambia will have a new blueprint for bilateral cooperation, and have further deepened the relationship between the two countries, said Chinese President Xi Jinping after his meeting with Gambian President Adama Barrow in Beijing.

Barrow is in China for his first presidential visit, from Wednesday to next Tuesday, at the invitation of Xi Jinping.

The Gambian president reiterated his country's adherence to the one-China policy during his talks with Xi.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) holds a welcome ceremony for visiting Gambian President Adama Barrow before their talks in Beijing, December 21, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

China and Gambia resumed bilateral relations in March 2016, after ties had been severed for some 20 years, after Gambia announced it would stick to the one-China policy, which asserts that Taiwan is part of China.

The Government of Gambia recognizes "the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal Government representing the whole of China, with Taiwan as an inherent part of China's territory," it said in a press release.

"The Gambia Government undertakes not to establish any official relations or engage in any official contacts with Taiwan," it stressed.

Both leaders then held a long talk on boosting bilateral relationship and deepening cooperation.

Xi and Barrow later witnessed the signing of seven cooperative documents, covering areas of economy, technology, infrastructure and cultural communication.