Yang Jiechi Visits the Republic of Congo and Meets with President Denis Sassou-Nguesso

On December 19, 2019 local time, Yang Jiechi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, met with President Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo in Brazzaville. 

Yang Jiechi said, China and the Republic of Congo are good friends, good partners and good brothers. In recent years, the two heads of state have met many times, steering the direction of the development of bilateral relations. Both countries have constantly deepened political mutual trust and achieved remarkable outcomes from practical cooperation, with cooperation in finance and aviation becoming a new growth point and major projects including the special economic zone in Pointe-Noire achieving positive progress. The Chinese side has always supported the Republic of Congo in developing economy and improving people's livelihood, and supported the Republic of Congo in following a development path that suits its national conditions. Both sides should maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, continue offering each other firm support on issues concerning respective core interests and major concerns, expand cooperation in various fields under the frameworks of the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, enhance communication and coordination, and safeguard the common interests of both countries and developing countries, thus to show the high level of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and the Republic of Congo. 

Denis Sassou-Nguesso expressed, the Republic of Congo cherishes the traditional friendship between the Republic of Congo and China. In 2013, President Xi Jinping chose the Republic of Congo for his first trip abroad as President, and we are deeply honored. The Chinese side has always been sincere and friendly and has given valuable support to the Republic of Congo's economic and social development. In particular, China recently provided emergency flood relief assistance to the Republic of Congo, and the people of the Republic of Congo were deeply moved. The Republic of Congo firmly supports and actively participates in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and expects the two sides to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in key areas such as agriculture, infrastructure and industrial parks.

On the same day, Yang Jiechi met with Jean-Claude Gakosso, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Congolese Nationals Abroad of the Republic of Congo. Both sides exchanged in-depth views on bilateral relations and topics of common interest, and agreed to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state to push the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and the Republic of Congo for new and greater development.