Chinese VP vows stronger ties with South Sudan

April 21, 2013 (BEIJING) – The Chinese vice president, Li Yuanchao on Thursday vowed to promote friendly cooperative ties with newly independent South Sudan.

China, the vice president said, attaches great importance to developing relations with the world’s youngest nation, further pledging the its commitment to work with the latter, to enhance political mutual trust and deepen people-to-people exchanges as well as pragmatic cooperation.

“The Communist Party of China (CPC) is willing to step up exchanges at all levels with the SPLM to push forward the bilateral friendship and cooperation,” Li reportedly said

Geng, also chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the country’s national assembly, said his delegation hopes from China’s ruling party the experience of state governance, as well as promote bilateral cooperation in investment, education and culture.

In April last year, Chinese President Hu Jintao also held talks with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, where both leaders agreed to expand and enhance pragmatic cooperation in all areas and advance friendly cooperative ties.

Hu at the time, said the bilateral friendly cooperation between China and South Sudan, is in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples, and also beneficial to the development of a new type of China-Africa strategic partnership as well as regional peace and development.

During his meeting his South Sudan counterpart, the Chinese president made a three-point proposal on further developing bilateral friendly cooperation and enhance cooperation, but within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

(ST)