Politics
14:12, 23-Dec-2017
In first visit since resumption of ties, Gambian president calls his China trip 'significant'
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China and Gambia established formal diplomatic links in 1974, but China suspended relations in 1995 when the West African country resumed so-called "diplomatic" ties with China's Taiwan. Gambia severed ties with Taiwan in 2013.
Despite the 21-year gap, the two nations reconnected again in 2016, with Gambian President Adama Barrow calling his current visit a very "important one."
"Now we have the chance to recover from what we lost," President Adama Barrow said.
Barrow said the resumption of diplomatic ties fully accords with the will of the Gambian people.
"You are the first Gambian president to visit China since the resumption of our bilateral ties. I extend my warm welcome to you," President Xi Jinping said during the welcome ceremony.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) holds a welcome ceremony for visiting Gambian President Adama Barrow before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 21, 2017. /Xinhua Photo
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) holds a welcome ceremony for visiting Gambian President Adama Barrow before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 21, 2017. /Xinhua Photo
The Gambian president also praised China for the help the country has extended to African countries.
The two presidents have now agreed to promote mutual political trust, work to understand each other better, and provide support when their concerns align. The two sides also reaffirmed the primacy of the one-China policy.
Following the talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents for setting up a Confucius Institute at the University of The Gambia as well as on cooperation in economy, trade, investment, technology, infrastructure construction and human resources development.
Barrow arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a week-long state visit. Besides Beijing, he will also visit the cities of Xiamen and Guangzhou.
(With inputs from Xinhua)
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