Djiboutian president hails cooperation with China

Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh on Thursday hailed the cooperation with China, saying it has promoted the economic and social development of the Horn of Africa country.

Guelleh, who is also head of Djibouti's People's Rally for Progress party, made the remarks when meeting with visiting Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao at the Presidential Palace in Djibouti.

He said that Djibouti and China have been enjoying long-term friendship and China is Djibouti's trustworthy and reliable partner.

He noted that the 10 major China-Africa cooperation plans, which were proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Johannesburg summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in December last year, as well as the Belt and Road Initiative, have provided valuable opportunities for Djibouti's development, said Guelleh.

He said that Djibouti is willing to strengthen cooperation with China towards achieving common development goals.

On his part, the Chinese vice president said that bilateral ties between China and Djibouti have witnessed sustained and healthy development since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1979.

The two sides have successfully cooperated in different mega projects, including the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway Project and the natural gas pipeline construction project, among others, Li said.

China is keen to cooperate with Djibouti in implementing the consensus of the leaders of the two countries and the outcome of the FOCAC summit, he said.

Li also stated that the Communist Party of China is ready to work with Djibouti's People's Rally for Progress to deepen inter-party exchanges and cooperation and promote the development of state-to-state relations. Endit