China, Mozambique establish comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership

BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Mozambican counterpart, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, decided to lift the relationship between the two countries to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership on Wednesday.

The two presidents reached the consensus during their talks at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing. Nyusi is paying a state visit to China at Xi's invitation.

During the talks, Xi hailed China and Mozambique as "good brothers sharing weal and woe, good friends supporting each other and good partners pursuing common development."

"[China] stands ready to deepen and expand friendly and reciprocal cooperation with Mozambique in various areas within the framework of the ten major plans for China-Africa cooperation to better benefit the people of the two countries," Xi said.

During the latest summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) last December in Johannesburg, South Africa, Xi announced ten major areas of China-Africa cooperation to help Africa speed up industrialization, agricultural modernization and strengthen infrastructure.

"The two sides should continue to plan and advance bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective, and understand and support each other on issues involving our core interests and major concerns," Xi said, calling for closer interactions between governmental organs, ruling parties, legislatures, and armed forces of the two countries.

According to a joint statement on establishing the partnership, China will firmly back Mozambique's efforts to safeguard its national security and stability as well as resist interference from outside.

Xi said China will support Mozambique's push to improve its national defense and ability to maintain stability.

Meanwhile, Mozambique will stick to the one-China policy and support all of the Chinese government's efforts to realize peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and national reunification, said the statement.

Mozambique also supports China's efforts to resolve territorial and maritime disputes with those countries directly concerned through consultation and negotiation in line with bilateral agreements and regional consensus, according to the statement.

Xi said he also looks forward to closer cooperation with Mozambique within the framework to the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road to boost the maritime economy, fisheries and port development.

The Chinese president pledged to strengthen cooperation with Mozambique on industrial capacity to help the African country tap the potential in its rich natural and human resources for economic development.

Xi said the Chinese government will support Chinese companies invest in Mozambique's natural gas exploitation, manufacturing, agriculture and infrastructure, and expand cooperation on human resources to help Mozambique improve its national industrial system.

Expressing his gratitude for China's assistance in Mozambique's push for national independence and development, Nyusi said the Mozambican side is willing to boost cooperation with China in various sectors and welcomes more investment from China.

During the talks, Xi reiterated that China will adhere to the principles of sincerity, practical results, affinity and good faith in its foreign policy toward Africa, binding its own development with Africa's development in pursuit of common prosperity.

After their talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents.

Prior to the talks, Xi held a ceremony to welcome the Mozambican president.