China to advance partnership with Republic of Congo

BEIJING, June 13 -- China is ready to advance its partnership with the Republic of Congo, Chinese top legislator Zhang Dejiang said here Friday.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), joined visiting Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso at an evening reception to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In his speech, Zhang said China is ready to implement the consensus that the two heads of state reached during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the Republic of Congo in March, 2013.

Zhang said China will further enhance mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and deepen fraternal friendship with the Republic of Congo, to promote the comprehensive cooperative partnership featuring solidarity and mutual assistance.

Zhang said the Chinese dream shares broad common ground with the African dream and the Congo dream, adding that both China and Congo are working on development and national rejuvenation.

"China's development will bring about ever greater room of cooperation for Africa and all other countries in the world," Zhang said.

He said development of the Republic of Congo and Africa will provide a bigger arena for China to carry out cooperation between the two sides.

Sassou said over the past five decades, the two countries have developed a vigorous, win-win partnership that has born rich fruits. He said the past 50 years marked a half century of true friendship, solidarity and commitment. He said the Republic of Congo will continue to expand friendly cooperation with China and make joint efforts to realize freedom, dignity and development.

The reception was hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing.

During a meeting with Sassou before the reception, Zhang said the NPC and the National Assembly of Congo should carry out even closer communication, step up practical cooperation to enhance the legal basis for bilateral relations.

He said the legislatures of the two sides should increase exchanges of experience on governing and advance bilateral relations for greater achievement.