Chinese premier eyes more cooperation with Guinea Bissau

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Guinea Bissau Prime Minister Baciro Dja on Monday, saying China is willing to enhance practical cooperation with the west African country.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with Guinea Bissau Prime Minister Baciro Dja on Monday.

China and Guinea Bissau have always respected each other and treated each other on an equal footing, Li told Dja, who is in Macao for the opening ceremony of the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries on Tuesday.

"China respects the choice of the people of Guinea Bissau for a development path that suits its own national conditions, and is ready to maintain high-level exchanges, consolidate political mutual trust and increase practical cooperation with the country," Li said.

China hopes Guinea Bissau can promote the practical cooperation between China and Guinea Bissau as well as the west African region, through making the most of its role as a Portuguese-speaking country, the Chinese premier said.

Hailing the two countries as sincere friends, Dja thanked China for its long-term valuable support and aid for the country's national independence and economic and social development, saying China's assistance does not come with political strings attached.

Dja expressed optimism for cooperation with China, saying his country is willing to enhance high-level exchanges and coordinate closely with China in international affairs to boost bilateral relations and the relationship between China and the Economic Community of West African States, Portuguese-speaking countries and Africa.