Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday hailed the current China-Madagascar ties.

 

In a meeting with President of Madagascar Marc Ravalomanana, Wen said the peoples of the two countries have carried out friendly exchanges for a long time despite their remoteness.

 

Ravalomanana came to Shanghai on Monday for the annual board meetings of the African Development Bank (ADB) Group scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.

 

Over the recent years, the two countries have kept frequent high-level visits and stepped up substantive cooperation in various fields, Wen said.

 

The implementation of a five-year development plan offers opportunities for the two countries to work more closely on infrastructure, agriculture, energy and mineral resources, Wen said, stressing the cooperation is based on the principle of equal and mutual benefit.

 

Wen also offered to help Madagascar with education and public health undertakings.

 

Ravalomanana praised China's reform and opening-up and economic progress.

 

Noting the two countries have much common interests, Ravalomanana said stronger China-Africa ties would provide an impetus to African economic development.

 

Madagascar would like to expand collaboration with China, he said.

 

Ravalomanana reiterated that Madagascar will adhere to the one-China policy.

 

Ravalomanana will attend the opening ceremony of the ADB board meetings and business seminars before leaving Shanghai on Friday.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2007)