Chadian President Says to Expand Cooperation with China in Various Fields

Chadian President Idriss Itno Deby (R) shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in N'djamena, capital of Chad, Feb. 16, 2011. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

N'DJAMENA, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno said Wednesday while meeting visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi that his country is willing to expand cooperation with China in infrastructure building, agriculture, health care and other fields.

During the meeting with Yang, who arrived here Tuesday for an official visit, the president said the Chadian-Chinese relations are based on equality, mutual respect and noninterference in each other's interior affairs. He said China has successfully completed a number of aid projects in Chad, which greatly facilitated the social and economic development of the African country.

Deby said Chad is willing to boost cooperation with China in such areas as infrastructure construction, agriculture and health care, and hopes to strengthen coordination with China on international affairs.

For his part, Yang said Chad has undertaken the path of national reconciliation, political stability and social progress under the leadership of President Deby, and has made significant achievements in economic development and improvement of the welfare of the Chadian people.

He said bilateral relations are developing rapidly since the re-establishment of diplomatic ties, with cooperation and exchanges at different levels significantly increased. The two sides have improved mutual political trust, supported each other on matters regarding each other's core interests, and seen continuous progress in trade and economic cooperation, said the foreign minister.

Yang said China sees Chad as an important partner in Africa, and China is willing to further boost mutual political trust with Chad, expand trade and cooperation in infrastructure building, telecommunications as well as education sectors.

The visiting Chinese FM also met with his Chadian counterpart Moussa Faki Mahamat Wednesday on further improving bilateral relations and cooperation.

Source: English.news.cn