China and Equatorial Guinea issued a joint communique Friday in Beijing at the end of Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo's visit to China.

At the invitation of President Hu Jintao, President Obiang paid a working visit to China from Oct. 19 to Oct. 24. During the visit, the two presidents held talks and Premier Wen Jiabao met with President Obiang. The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations and other regional and international issues of common concern, reaching a broad consensus.

The two sides expressed their satisfaction with the friendly cooperative relations that had existed between the two nations since diplomatic ties were first established 35 years ago. The two sides agreed to lift bilateral relations to a new level based on the principle of treating each other in a sincere, friendly and equal fashion and making joint cooperative efforts to seek common development.

The two sides promised to give full support to each other on the core issue of safeguarding national sovereignty and opposing secession.

The communique says the Equatorial Guinean side reiterated its position that there is only one China in the world, that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory.

It says Equatorial Guinea remains committed to its one China policy, opposes any form of Taiwan independence, supports all efforts by the Chinese government to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity, and supports China's measures against secessionist attempts by pro-Taiwan independence forces. The Chinese side appreciates its support and reaffirms its support for Equatorial Guinea's efforts to safeguard national security and strengthen national unity.

The communique says the Chinese side will continue its assistance to Equatorial Guinea and is ready to make joint efforts with Equatorial Guinea to discuss new methods and ways of thinking on economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

Priority will be given to mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, resource exploration, agriculture, fishery and forestry to promote the sustainable development of the two countries, according to the communique.

The two sides will continue to strengthen mutual support and cooperation in international affairs and maintain close links on major issues like UN reform, development and the reduction of poverty in order to push forward the establishment of a just and sound new international political and economic order, the communique says.

It says the two sides spoke highly of Sino-African friendly cooperative relations and are willing to promote the continued development of the cause through the China-Africa Cooperation Forum.

According to the communique, the two countries signed four cooperative documents during Obiang's visit covering the fields of investment, economic and technological cooperation, finance and diplomacy.

The communique says Obiang invited Hu to visit Equatorial Guinea. Hu accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Source: Xinhua