China and Angola will work jointly to promote bilateral practical cooperation, and advance bilateral friendship to a higher level, Chinese President Hu Jintao reached the consensus with his Angolan counterpart in Beijing on Wednesday.

Chinese President Hu Jintao shakes hands with visiting Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos at the welcoming ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on December 17, 2008. [Xinhua Photo]

During the meeting with the visiting Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, Hu raised four proposals to deepen cooperation between the two countries.

Hu said the two countries should maintain exchanges of views on important issues of common concern, and keep the friendly momentum of bilateral exchanges at levels of senior leaders, governmental departments, legislative bodies and ruling parties.

Secondly, the two sides should expand cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, the construction of infrastructure, energy and mineral resources, and telecommunications and agriculture.

China will send agricultural experts and technicians to Angola to help develop agriculture, under the framework of Forum on the China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and multilateral agricultural cooperation.

China upholds that a relevant mechanism for cooperation should be established or perfected to guide and coordinate the cooperation on economy and trade.

In addition, China urges the injection of vigor to China-Angola partnership of cooperation, which calls for the two countries to pay more attention to cooperation on human culture, especially in the fields of culture, education, journalism, judicature and sports.

The fourth proposal was the two sides should cement cooperation under an international multilateral mechanism, such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization as well as the FOCAC, and strengthen coordination on important international and regional issues, so as to jointly handle possible challenges and push the establishment of a more just and reasonable international political and economic order.

Echoing Hu, dos Santos said China-Angola cooperation has set a good example for the developing countries in "South-South Cooperation".

Considering China as strategic partner of cooperation, Angola agrees to consolidate the bilateral relations, he said.

Chinese enterprises are welcome to join in the reconstruction and development of Angola, he said.

He said Angola is ready to work with China to expand areas and ways of cooperation.

Dos Santos also expressed hope that the two sides should enhance cooperation and coordination on issues concerning African countries and multilateral affairs.

The Angolan people and government are grateful for China's support on Angola's defense against foreign aggression and efforts for national liberation and reconstruction work, he said.

Angola achieved independence from Portugal in 1975, and saw the end of its 27-year civil war in 2002.

During the meeting, Hu also appreciated Angola's adherence to the one-China policy and the support on issues related to Taiwan and Tibet, which touch the core interests of China.

This is the third China visit of dos Santos since he took office in September 1979. He paid two official visits to China in 1988 and 1998, and also attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games in August.

China forged diplomatic ties with Angola in 1983. The two sides have witnessed sound development of bilateral relations on the basis of sincerity, friendliness, equality and mutual benefit.

The past few years have witnessed a fast growing trade between the two countries. The trade volume between the two countries increased to US$20.8 million during the first nine months of this year.

(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2008)