Xi: China, Niger are good friends and partners

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02:01

China and Niger are good friends and good partners of mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, said Chinese President Xi Jinping during his meeting with Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou on Tuesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

During the meeting, President Xi spoke highly of China-Niger relations. He said that China is willing to enhance political mutual trust and strategic coordination with Niger based on the achievement made during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

Xi urged the two sides to enhance exchanges and cooperation in infrastructure, energy, agriculture and other fields, adding that China is willing to provide Niger with medical assistance.

He also stressed that the two sides should continue to firmly support each other on issues of core interests and major concerns and stay committed to the Belt and Road cooperation as well as in building a community with shared future for mankind.

Xi reiterated China's support to Niger in counter-terrorism and maintaining regional stability, adding that China will continue to provide support for the development of the G5 Sahel joint force through bilateral and multilateral channels.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) shakes hand with Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, May 28, 2019. /Xinhua Photo

Issoufou echoed Xi's remarks, saying that Niger attaches great importance to China-Niger relations and stays committed to the one-China principle. While hailing China's great contributions to the progress of human civilization, Issoufou also noted that China has achieved remarkable economic and social development in the past four decades.

He welcomed the Belt and Road Initiative and the goal of building a community with shared future for mankind, saying that African countries applauded the pragmatic attitude China holds in developing China-Africa relations.

He thanked Xi for his proposal of the "China Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan". With long-standing friendly relations with China, Niger is ready to expand pragmatic cooperation with China in security and modernization and enhance communication and coordination on major international and African regional affairs, said Issoufou.

After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents.

Before meeting with President Xi, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also met with Issoufou. The Chinese premier spoke highly of the development of bilateral ties. He reiterated China's commitment to inclusive, green and sustainable development and vowed to expand cooperation with Niger in varies fields.