Jia Qinglin meets AU, AUC Chiefs on friendly ties

Top Chinese political advisor Jia Qinglin met African Union (AU) Chairman Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and African Union Commission (AUC) Chairman Jean Ping on Saturday, pledging to promote the China-AU relationship to a new level.

During his meeting with Obiang, who is also president of Equatorial Guinea, Jia said the AU has played a more and more important role in Africa's internal and external affairs. Faced with complicated influence of international and regional situation, the AU has reacted independently addressing the issues in Africa and maintaining the unity and dignity of Africa.

"AU is the important cooperative partner of China in Africa and international community. China appreciated AU's consistent support for China on issues of China's core interests and major concerns," said Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

"China is willing to make joint efforts with AU and African countries to deepen strategic mutual trust and expand cooperation and coordination, and further promote China-AU relationships," he added.

Obiang said as Africa's great friend, China has offered selfless support and help to Africa, especially the new AU headquarter constructed with the aid of China. African countries must unite and cooperate with China to achieve development, he added.

When meeting with Jean Ping, Jia said the AU is a banner leading African countries to achieve independence and development. "China will unswervingly support Africa's unity, independence and integration process," he added.

Jia said China will provide 600 million yuan (about US$ 95 million) in aid to the AU in the next three years for projects agreed by the two sides. China will also enhance cooperation with the AU in terms of infrastructure development planning, peace and security, peacekeeping capacity building and China-AU strategic dialog mechanism.

Jean Ping said the peoples of China and Africa have witnessed a time-honored friendship and that they have supported each other in pursuit of independence and development. The AU hopes to boost cooperation with China in infrastructure construction, agriculture, manufacture and other fields, so as to improve self-development capacity of Africa.

"African people will never forget China's important role in promoting peace, stability and development of Africa," Jean Ping added.