Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and visiting Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira Neves of Cape Verde said in Beijing Tuesday that they wish to push forward the relations between the two countries. 

During his talks with Neves, Wen said that the Chinese people had firmly supported the people in Cape Verde for their fighting for national independence.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 28 years ago, Wen said, China and Cape Verde have well developed their relationship and cooperated with each other in many areas.

The two countries always respect each other and treat equally with each other on political affairs, Wen said. At the same time, the two countries carry out trade and economic cooperation on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit.

Wen said the Chinese side is satisfied with the momentum of development of bilateral relations. He also expressed his gratitude for Cape Verde's adherence to the one-China policy.

As two developing countries, Wen said, both China and Cape Verde need to develop economy and improve people's living. Solidarity and cooperation between China and Cape Verde meet the basic interests of both countries.

Wen said the Chinese government cherishes the traditional friendship and friendly cooperation with Cape Verde and is willing to expand political exchange, economic cooperation as well as partnership in other fields such as culture and education, health and human resources development.

Neves agreed with Wen on his proposals on enhancing bilateral relations. He said the support from the Chinese in past decades played an important role in the development process in Cape Verde.

He said his country tries to become a freight transit and a financial center in West Africa. In this process, he said, Cape Verde wishes China to be an economic partner in industry, agriculture, energy, marine transport, tourism and infrastructure construction.

Neves said his country will always stick to the one-China policy.

After the talks, representatives from the two countries signed two treaties on economic cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency August 25, 2004)