Chinese President Hu Jintao met with visiting Central African President Francois Bozize in Beijing Thursday. The two presidents agreed to make joint efforts to consolidate and strengthen ties between the two countries.

Hu made a three-point proposal on boosting bilateral cooperation. The two sides should strengthen political, economic, cultural, educational and medical cooperation, he said. Hu proposed that agriculture, infrastructure and human resources development be the key areas of cooperation.

China encourages its firms to invest in Central Africa and is willing to explore cooperation in areas of oil, diamond, iron ore and forestry development, said the Chinese president.

Bozize, who arrived in Beijing Thursday noon, said China has won increasing admiration and respect across the world and is playing an ever greater role in world peace and other international matters.

He praised China's role in safeguarding the interests of the developing nations and in building a fair world political and economic order, and said the government and people of the Central African Republic will firmly support China's reunification cause and develop full-range cooperation with China.

Bozize thanked China for its assistance to his country in agriculture, infrastructure and public health. He stressed that Hu's three-point proposal will greatly push forward the cooperation between the two countries.

Hu told Bozize that that China appreciates the African nation's upholding the one-China policy, and that the one-China principle is an important political basis for China to develop friendly and cooperative relations with the Central African Republic and other countries across the world.

"We appreciate the one-China policy held by President Bozize and the Government of the Central African Republic as well as their support for China's reunification cause," Hu said.
 
China and the Central African Republic signed a joint communique and several other cooperative documents following the talks of the two presidents.

Besides Beijing, President Bozize will also visit southwest China's Guizhou Province and Shanghai.

(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2004)