China, Central African Republic vow to deepen cooperation

Central African Republic (CAR) President Faustin Archange Touadera (R) meets with Zheng Jianbang, vice chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, in Bangui, the Central African Republic, on April 24, 2019. (Xinhua/Jean Pierre Kepseu)

BANGUI, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Zheng Jianbang, vice chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Faustin-Archange Touadera, president of the Central African Republic (CAR), vowed on Wednesday in Bangui to deepen cooperation.

Zheng conveyed warm greetings and good wishes from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Touadera. The relationship between China and the CAR has been progressing smoothly, the mutual political trust has been strengthening, and pragmatic cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, and exchanges between people on various levels are moving forward in an orderly fashion, Zheng said.

Zheng reiterated China's commitment to supporting CAR's peace process and its nation building. He said that China is willing to deepen relations of friendly cooperation with the CAR amid efforts to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), so as to bring more benefits to the people of both countries.

For his part, Touadera asked Zheng to convey his sincere greetings and good wishes to President Xi. He said the CAR will, like before, resolutely adhere to the one-China policy, and is willing to work with China to consolidate the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

On the same day, Zheng also met with Laurent Ngon-Baba, speaker of the National Assembly of the CAR, and Firmin Ngrebada, CAR's prime minister.