Chinese premier vows to promote cooperation with Togo, Mali

ABUJA, May 7 -- Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Wednesday vowed to advance cooperation with Togo and Mali.

Li made the pledge as he held separate talks with Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe and Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara, who are in the Nigerian capital for the 2014 World Economic Forum on Africa.

When meeting with Gnassingbe, Li said China intends to carry forward the traditional China-Togo friendship initiated by older generations of leaders from the two sides, and enhance cooperation in infrastructure construction, so as to lift bilateral relations to a new high.

China is ready to help Togo build a regional hub of transportation, commerce and trade and logistics in West Africa, the premier said.

He said China would also like to join Togo and other African countries in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime for the peace, stability and development in Africa, amid mounting non-traditional security challenges the continent faces.

For his part, Gnassingbe said the longtime Togo-China relationship has a solid foundation and a bright future, adding his country hopes to deepen cooperation with China in various fields.

He also said that as African countries highly appreciated China's important role in promoting African peace and development and fully supported the China-Africa cooperation framework proposed by Li in his speech at the headquarters of the African Union, they are willing to work with China to timely upgrade the Africa-China strategic partnership.