Li vows to promote cooperation with Togo, Mali

Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Wednesday vowed to advance cooperation with Togo and Mali.  [Special coverage]

Li made the pledge as he held separate talks with Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe and Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara, who are in the Nigerian capital for the 2014 World Economic Forum on Africa.

When meeting with Gnassingbe, Li said China intends to carry forward the traditional China-Togo friendship initiated by older generations of leaders from the two sides, and enhance cooperation in infrastructure construction, so as to lift bilateral relations to a new high.

China is ready to help Togo build a regional hub of transportation, commerce and trade and logistics in West Africa, the premier said.

He said China would also like to join Togo and other African countries in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime for the peace, stability and development in Africa, amid mounting non-traditional security challenges the continent faces.

For his part, Gnassingbe said the longtime Togo-China relationship has a solid foundation and a bright future, adding his country hopes to deepen cooperation with China in various fields.

He also said that as African countries highly appreciated China's important role in promoting African peace and development and fully supported the China-Africa cooperation framework proposed by Li in his speech at the headquarters of the African Union, they are willing to work with China to timely upgrade the Africa-China strategic partnership.

Calling Mali an old friend and reliable partner of China, Li told his Malian counterpart Mara that China firmly supports Mali's efforts in defending national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

Li said the Chinese side will continue to work with the international community and play an active role in promoting lasting peace and development in Mali.

The premier added that China will enhance bilateral cooperation in agriculture, electricity, infrastructure, information and communication, expand cooperative frontiers, and update cooperation mode so as to achieve common development and mutual benefit.

Mara hailed fraternity between the two nations and said the bilateral cooperation is fruitful.

He said his country totally agrees with the China-Africa cooperation framework proposed by Li and will work hard to help turn it into tangible results to benefit Chinese and African peoples.

Li arrived here Tuesday on the second leg of his first Africa trip as Chinese premier.

Before Nigeria, Li paid a visit to Ethiopia, where he also went to the African Union headquarters and delivered a speech there to expound on China's Africa policy. Li will later travel to Angola and Kenya during his ongoing Africa tour.