Chinese Premier meets Cape Verde's PM

BEIJING, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday met with Jose Maria Pereira Neves, prime minister of Cape Verde in Beijing.

Neves is in the capital for the opening ceremony of the fifth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) which is scheduled to be held on Thursday.

During the meeting, Wen said the China-Cape Verde relationship is stronger than ever and is witnessing its fastest development.

Wen said that along with increasing friendly exchanges at all levels, the two countries have conducted fruitful cooperation at the bilateral level and under the frameworks of the FOCAC and the Forum For Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

Wen stressed that China is committed to injecting fresh vitality into the traditional friendship between the two sides by enhancing high-level and party exchanges, expanding cooperation in various fields, such as tourism, education, marine economy, clean energy, information technology and finance.

Hailing the positive role Cape Verde has played in regards of promoting peace and security of Africa and addressing climate change through international cooperation, Wen said China is willing to strengthen coordination with Cape Verde in an effort to protect the common interests and unity of developing countries and drive further progress of global sustainable development.

Echoing Wen's sentiment, Neves said China, as Africa's good friend and parntner, has long been giving sincere assistance to Cape Verde and other African countries, which promotes Africa's social and economic development.

Neves noted that Cape Verde would like to further enhance high-level exchanges with China and make greater cooperation in a variety of areas, including aviation, fishery, infrastructures construction, human resources development, renewable energy exploitation and utilization.

Neves said his country will continue to play a significant role in promoting Africa-China cooperation.