China and Chad signed a series of cooperative agreements, including one on a joint venture between China National Petroleum Corporation and Chadian Oil Refinery, in Beijing yesterday.

President Hu Jintao and visiting Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno were present on the occasion after a one-hour meeting in the Great Hall of the People.

According to the agreements, China will provide preferential loans to the central African country, help construct a government building and offer facilities for water and power supply.

China will also provide humanitarian aid and anti-malaria medicines and build an anti-malaria center.

China and Chad resumed diplomatic ties on August 6 last year. The two countries had established formal diplomatic links in 1972 but China severed diplomatic relations with Chad in 1997 when it "re-established diplomatic ties" with Taiwan, a province of China.

Bilateral relations have developed smoothly since the two countries resumed diplomatic ties, Hu said during his talks with Deby Itno. Exchanges between the two sides at various levels have gained momentum and cooperation in various fields has rapidly increased.

"The Chadian government insists on the one-China policy, opposes Taiwan 'independence' and supports China's position on the Taiwan question. We appreciate that," Hu said.

A joint communique signed by the two countries last year said: "The Chadian government recognizes that there is only one China in the world and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole China. Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory."

Developing bilateral ties suits the interests of both the countries and their peoples and is conducive to the growth of the China-Africa strategic partnership, Hu said.

Deby Itno arrived in Beijing yesterday on a state visit to China at the invitation of Hu. This is his second visit to the country; the previous one was in 1994.

Agreeing fully with his Chinese host, Deby Itno said mutual trust and understanding between Chad and China has been increasing, which guarantees the two countries will develop a healthy and productive partnership.

Chad is willing to work with China to implement cooperative projects and actively promote enterprises from the two countries to intensify cooperation, he said.

The Chadian president lauded the "positive" role China has played in the Darfur issue of Sudan, Chad's neighbor.

(China Daily September 20, 2007)