Chinese premier meets Nigerien president

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou in Beijing, capital of China, May 28, 2019. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou on Tuesday, calling on the two countries to cooperate for more achievements.

Commending the progress of cooperation between the two countries, Li said Niger is China's important cooperation partner in Africa.

He said China stands ready to deepen political mutual trust and enhance the synergy of development strategies with Niger in line with the principles of mutual trust and equal treatment, so as to build China-Niger friendly cooperation as a model of China-Africa relations.

China and Niger are both developing countries and they should learn from each other and choose a development path that suits their own national conditions, Li said.

China is willing to enhance infrastructure construction, energy, agriculture, health cooperation with Niger in accordance with market rules and business principles to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results, said Li.

He added that China will support its capable enterprises to take part in Niger's domestic construction and hopes that the Nigerien side will strengthen security protection for them.

China is willing to continue providing support and aid to Niger within its own capacity to help the African country's economic and social development and livelihood improvement.

Li also expressed China's support for the agreement on Africa free trade area and Africa's integration process.

Issoufou expressed congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and expressed admiration for the huge achievements of China's reform and opening-up.

He said China has set off on a new journey and is bound to achieve its goals.

Niger speaks highly of bilateral relations, firmly upholds the one-China principle, and is willing to actively taking part in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, he said.

Niger is willing to enhance relations and cooperation with China across the board, and enhance coordination and cooperation in international affairs to enhance bilateral relations and Africa-China relations, he said.