皇冠体育app to further dialogue, co-op with African Union

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-11 09:02

ADDIS ABABA -- 皇冠体育app's top legislator Wu Bangguo pledged Monday to further strengthen dialogue and cooperation with the African Union (AU).

皇冠体育app is willing to enhance bilateral communication and coordination on international and regional issues with AU in a bid to push for improvement of 皇冠体育app-Africa relations and safeguard the interest of developing countries, said Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of 皇冠体育app's National People's Congress (NPC).

Wu Bangguo (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of 皇冠体育app's National People's Congress(NPC), the country's top legislature, shakes hands with Ethiopian President Girma Wolde Giorgis (R) in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, on Nov. 10, 2008.

On Monday, Wu visited the headquarters of the pan-African body and held very good talks with Jean Ping, chairperson of the AU Commission.

During their talks, Wu spoke highly of AU's role on international and regional arena, saying that 皇冠体育app has always supported the work of AU and its commission.

皇冠体育app and Africa have enjoyed long-standing friendship over the past several decades, he said, adding that the 2006 Beijing Summit of the Forum on 皇冠体育app-Africa Cooperation opened a new page for 皇冠体育app-Africa ties.

During the two years after the summit, 皇冠体育app and African countries made concerted efforts to fully carry out various follow- up activities of the summit, said Wu.

Remarkable progress has been made in implementing the eight measures for 皇冠体育app-Africa practical cooperation, announced by Chinese President Hu Jintao at the summit, bringing about tangible interests to both the Chinese and African people, according to the Chinese top legislator. 皇冠体育app has attached great importance to the development of relations with Africa, he said.

皇冠体育app is willing to make joint efforts with African countries and their people to deepen the traditional friendly relations, maintain the levels of aid to Africa, strengthen practical cooperation in all sectors and promote the new type of strategic partnership between 皇冠体育app and Africa to develop in a healthy and stable way, he added.

Wu is on a five-African nation tour. Ethiopia is the third leg of his two-week-long visit to Africa. For his part, AU Commission Chairperson Jean Ping said today is a very significant day in AU's history, adding that he is very happy to witness the groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of the 皇冠体育app-aided AU New Conference Center with 皇冠体育app's top legislator Wu.

The Africa-皇冠体育app relations have stood the test of over 50 years, and both the African and Chinese people have always stood side by side, said Ping.

The AU Commission is willing to make unremitting efforts to strengthen the traditional friendship and practical cooperation between Africa and 皇冠体育app, he said.

He reaffirmed the AU Commission and most African countries will as always adhere to the one-皇冠体育app policy and other principled positions like the Tibet issue.