Top Chinese Legislator Meets Togolese President


Top Chinese Legislator Meets Togolese President
Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, met with Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema Wednesday.

Li said China and Togo is geographically far away but emotionally very close. China values its traditional friendship with Togo.

The friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries have witnessed steady and healthy growth since the establishment of diplomatic ties 28 years ago, Li added.

The two countries have conducted sincere and friendly cooperation and achieved satisfactory results in various fields. Li said that in international affairs, China and Togo have always been supporting and helping each other.

Li said China has always held that Africa has a very great potential of development and a bright future. Like people of other regions and countries, the African people are fully entitled to choosing their own political system and road of development that fits the situation in an individual country.

He noted that China and Africa should make concerted efforts to promote the establishment of a new international political and economic order and create more favorable conditions for their own development.

The top legislator said the National People's Congress of China welcomes visits by parliament leaders and figures from all the walks of life in Togo for the promotion of mutual understanding and friendship.

Eyadema expressed his appreciation of China's independent foreign policy of peace and its support to Togo over the past years.

On the situation in Africa, the Togolese president said Africa is abundant in natural resources, but the resources have not been well developed, due to the lack of a peaceful, secure and stable environment.

He noted that it is a very important and timely move on the Chinese side to advocate and host the China-Africa Cooperation Forum -- Ministerial Conference Beijing 2000 and provide an opportunity for discussing major issues of common concern.

Eyadema stressed that Togo highly appreciate China's principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs and respect for the rights of all countries in choosing their own road of development.

The Togolese government will stick to the One-China policy, Eyadema pledged. Li Peng expressed his appreciation of this stance.



People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/