Cooperation tops the agenda in Chengdu

Burundi

With multiple challenges and crises in the world, China and Africa need to strengthen unity and cooperation, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries and international fairness and justice, President Xi Jinping said during a meeting with Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye.

Noting that China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future, Xi said that developing solidarity and cooperation with African countries is an important cornerstone of China's foreign policy and a firm strategic choice.

China is willing to provide new opportunities for Africa's development through its own new development, he said.

On China-Burundi relations, Xi said that the two countries have withstood the test of the changes in the international landscape, and they are good friends and good partners who respect each other and develop together.

China firmly supports Burundi in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, opposes external interference, and supports Burundi in pursuing an independent development path, Xi said.

He urged both countries to continue to firmly support each other on issues related to their core interests, and achieve a higher level of mutually beneficial cooperation and common development.

China will accelerate the implementation of major cooperative projects, support the entry of Burundi's agricultural products to the Chinese market at an early date, encourage capable Chinese enterprises to invest in Burundi and help Burundi achieve self-sufficiency and sustainable development in food production, Xi said.

Ndayishimiye said that Burundi appreciates the valuable support from China and regards China as an all-weather cooperative partner in achieving national development. Burundi adheres to the one-China policy and it maintains that Taiwan is an integral part of China, he said.

The Burundian president said that his country opposes double standards on human rights issues as well as interference in the internal affairs of other countries. The cooperation between Africa and China is mutually beneficial, and Burundi is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with China in regional and international affairs, strengthen solidarity and cooperation between Africa and China, and build a more just and reasonable international order, he said.

CAO DESHENG