China is willing to carry out reciprocal cooperation with Cape Verde in shipping, communications, service and tourism sectors, said Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing Monday.

"These industries are crucial for Cape Verde's economic development, while China boasts advantages in these areas," he told Cape Verde's Prime Minister Jose Maria Neves.

Though far apart, the two countries have always maintained close cooperative relations, he said. Throughout the years, China has provided assistance to help Cape Verde build more than 10 projects including a dam and a library, which has yielded good economic and social effects, he said.

Stating his country has also sent more than 10 medical teams to Cape Verde, Wen said China is a developing country and is not well- off itself. The assistance we have provided to the best of our ability is therefore sincere and selfless, he added.

Cape Verde attaches great importance to enhancing friendly cooperative relations with China, said Neves.

The prime minister said his country is greatly inspired by the new moves China has announced to foster Africa's development, adding that Cape Verde wishes to take this opportunity and exert its own geological advantages to play a unique role in promoting Africa-China economic cooperation.

Neves arrived here Friday for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, a weekend gathering attended by 41 heads of state or government and senior officials from 48 African countries that have diplomatic ties with China.

China and Cape Verde forged diplomatic relations on April 25, 1976, and bilateral trade totaled 5.19 million U.S. dollars in 2005.

Source: Xinhua