Chinese President Hu continues eight-nation tour

building economic, political, cultural ties in Africa

Xinhua News Service

Chinese President Hu Jintao is continuing his eight-nation tour of Africa after his three-day visit to Zambia.

In Windhoek, Namibia, Hu held talks Monday with his Namibian counterpart Hifikepunye Pohamba on strengthening bilateral ties.

In a written statement released at the airport upon his arrival, Hu said that Namibia is one of the youngest countries in Africa. The Namibian people, hardworking, talented and full of vitality, won national independence in 1990 through arduous struggles and have since achieved great successes in national development.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 17 years ago, the relationship between China and Namibia has been growing steadily, with fruitful cooperation in the political, economic, education, public health, cultural and other fields, he said.

"I look forward to having an in-depth exchange of views with the Namibian leaders on the bilateral relationship, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and other major issues of mutual interest," he said.

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

Hu flew into Namibia from the Zambian capital of Lusaka where he paid an earlier state visit.

In Zambia, Hu had talks with his Zambian counterpart Levy Patrick Mwanawasa. They discussed ways of enhancing friendship and economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Following their talks, the two countries signed eight cooperation agreements.

On Sunday, the Chinese president met former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, and attended the inauguration ceremony of a Zambia-China economic cooperation zone, the first one to be set up by China in Africa.

At the Beijing Summit of the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) last November, Hu announced eight measures to strengthen China-Africa cooperation, including the establishment of three to five trade and economic cooperation zones in Africa in the next three years.

"The aim of my African tour is to consolidate the traditional friendship between China and Africa, implement the results achieved at the Beijing summit of FOCAC, expand pragmatic cooperation and seek common development," Hu said at the inauguration ceremony.

Mwanawasa pledged to further improve the investment environment and hoped that more Chinese and foreign enterprises will settle in the zone, bringing along with them know-how and expertise necessary for the development of the zone and Zambia at large.

The construction of the zone is expected to boost the development of Zambia's light industry and the sectors of construction materials, home electrical appliance, pharmacy and food processing, increase the country's exports and create job opportunities for locals.

Since China and Zambia established diplomatic relations in 1964, the two countries have maintained what Kaunda described as an "all-weather friendship."

Hu is on an eight-nation African tour that has already taken him to Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan and Zambia, and he will continue his journey to South Africa, Mozambique and Seychelles after Namibia.

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