China and Nigeria vowed to strengthen cooperation on the reform
of the United Nations, according to a joint communiqué issued by
the two countries in Beijing Friday.??
The communiqué was issued after President Hu Jintao
held talks with visiting Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who
is paying a four-day state visit as guest of Hu.
The communiqué says that both sides expressed their
determination to continue to cooperate closely for the attainment
of global security and development through a reformed UN.
Nigeria expressed Africa's common position on the UN reforms,
including the realization of two permanent seats of which Nigeria
hopes to be one.
China supports expanding the representation of the vast
developing countries, those in Africa included, in the UN Security
Council, says the communiqué.
The two countries agreed to establish a China-Nigeria strategic
partnership characterized by mutual political trust, economic
benefit and mutual assistance in international affairs within the
framework of South-South cooperation.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to carrying forward the
tradition of China-Africa friendly cooperation, and the willingness
to push forward the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership
featuring long-term stability, equality and mutual benefit and
all-round cooperation.
China supports the development of the African Union and the
implementation of the New Partnership for African Development
(NEPAD), and is ready to combine the development goals of the
China-Africa Cooperation Forum with the priority areas of NEPAD,
says the communiqué.
Obasanjo is visiting in the dual-capacity of Nigerian president
and rotating president of the AU.
The communiqué also says "Nigeria supports China's efforts to
reunify the nation, including the formulation of the Anti-Secession
Law."
It says the two countries pledged to support each other on
issues relating to sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Nigeria reaffirms that "there is only one China in the world."
The Chinese government is "the only legitimate government
representing the whole China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of
China's territory," the communiqué says.
It says China "expresses its appreciation" for Nigeria's
position.
In the communiqué, the two countries expressed satisfaction with
the achievements in their close cooperation in various fields since
the establishment of diplomatic relations and indicated their
readiness to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship through
high-level exchange of visits and people-to-people contacts.
Economic cooperation is also emphasized in the communiqué. Both
countries shared the view that China and Nigeria, highly
complementary in economy, enjoy immense potential and broad
prospects of cooperation.
They expressed readiness to cement cooperation in areas
including trade, technology transfer, investment, energy, railway,
communications and manufacturing so as to achieve mutually
beneficial and win-win results and common development.
The two sides have decided to set up an investment cooperation
working group within the framework of their Joint Economic and
Trade Commission to facilitate both enterprises.
(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2005)