Chinese, Namibian presidents meet on bilateral cooperation

Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao met his Namibian counterpart Hifikepunye Pohamba in Windhoek Monday for talks on bilateral ties and other issues.

President Hu jetted into Windhoek from the Zambian capital of Lusaka after a state visit.

In a written statement issued upon his arrival in Windhoek, President Hu said that he will have an in-depth exchange of views with Namibian leaders on the bilateral relationship, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and other major issues of mutual interest.

"I hope that my visit will enhance mutual understanding and trust, strengthen the bond of traditional friendship and advance the friendly relations and cooperation between China and Namibia," he said.

Since China and Namibia established diplomatic relations in 1990 the two countries have witnessed a steady development of friendly cooperation with bilateral trade growing constantly. An increasing number of Chinese enterprises have invested in Namibia in recent years.

Namibia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in the fields of industry, human resources and infrastructure construction.

President Hu is on an eight-nation tour of Africa that has already taken him to Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, and Zambia, and will also take him to South Africa, Mozambique and Seychelles.

Hu's visit to the eight African countries is aimed at consolidating the traditional friendship between China and Africa, implementing the agreements reached at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation last November, increasing substantial cooperation and promoting common development.

At the Beijing summit, leaders of China and 48 African countries agreed to establish and develop a new type of strategic partnership, featuring political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchange.

Source: Xinhua