China, Equatorial Guinea mark ties anniversary

China's top political advisor, Yu Zhengsheng, and Equatorial Guinea's president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, on Wednesday attended a reception in Beijing to mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties being established between the two countries.

The two peoples have developed a strong friendship in the past 45 years, said Yu when addressing the reception.

China has sent about 500 medical workers to Equatorial Guinea in the past four decades, while Equatorial Guinea donated one million euros to Sichuan Province following the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008.

The two sides have also agreed on a project under which they will jointly build a school in China and a school in Equatorial Guinea.

These moves show the good will in Equatorial Guinea towards China, said Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

He called on the two sides to deepen cooperation, so as to jointly push ahead their partnership.

Obiang thanked China for its assistance to Equatorial Guinea, saying his country is willing to beef up cooperation with China in areas including the economy and trade, finance and personnel training.

Equatorial Guinea hopes for support from China in its industrialization process and welcomes investment from Chinese companies, said the president.

During the reception, Yu and Obiang jointly inaugurated the China-Equatorial Guinea Friendship Primary School, which will be built in Yunnan's Jinping County with funding from Equatorial Guinea. Endi