Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Beijing Tuesday the Chinese government would earnestly implement the consensus reached between Chinese and Mozambican heads of state at their summit talks to expand bilateral cooperation in trade and economy, agriculture, and human resources development.  

At his meeting with visiting Mozambican President Joaquim Alberto Chissano, Wen gave a positive comment on the Sino-Mozambican relations, saying the bilateral friendship had a solid basis.

When Mozambican people fought for their independence, Wen said, the Chinese people provided firm support, and since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have supported and helped each other, and cultivated a relationship featuring mutual respect in political cooperation and reciprocity in economic partnership.

Wen praised Mozambique's stand on the one-China policy and exchanged views with Chissano on the Sino-African cooperation.

Chissano said the two countries have already made progress in many fields including trade and economic cooperation, adding that Mozambique-China cooperation is a major part of the South-South cooperation.

Mozambique is willing to increase mutually beneficial cooperation with China in investment, agriculture and mining, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2004)