President Xi meets Sudanese national assembly speaker

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping met Fatih Ezzedine al-Mansur, speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of the Sudan, in Beijing on Thursday.

Xi called the two countries "good friends, good brothers and good partners" with equity, mutual support and reciprocal cooperation.

He hailed their close exchanges, political mutual trust, mutual support on issues involving each other's core interests, and fruitful cooperation in areas including energy, trade, culture and healthcare.

China always treat the relationship with Sudan from a strategic and long-term view, and is ready to work with it to deepen bilateral cooperation in all areas, according to Xi.

He expressed support for more exchanges and cooperation between the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, and the Sudanese National Assembly, saying the friendly engagement between legislatures is an important part of the bilateral relationship and a major channel to enhance the two people's friendship.

Xi called on the two legislatures to make bigger contributions to strengthening understanding between the two peoples and promoting the two countries' cooperation.

Fatih thanked China for assisting Sudan's economic and social development.

He said Sudan is ready to strengthen its cooperation with China in such areas as energy, mining, and infrastructure construction, as well as in regional and international affairs.

Fatih added that the Sudanese National Assembly supports the two governments to sign cooperation deals.

Fatih is visiting China from March 31 to April 4, at the invitation of Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.