Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday hailed the current
China-Madagascar ties.
In a meeting with President of Madagascar Marc Ravalomanana, Wen
said the peoples of the two countries have carried out friendly
exchanges for a long time despite their remoteness.
Ravalomanana came to Shanghai on Monday for the annual board
meetings of the African Development Bank (ADB) Group scheduled for
Wednesday and Thursday.
Over the recent years, the two countries have kept frequent
high-level visits and stepped up substantive cooperation in various
fields, Wen said.
The implementation of a five-year development plan offers
opportunities for the two countries to work more closely on
infrastructure, agriculture, energy and mineral resources, Wen
said, stressing the cooperation is based on the principle of equal
and mutual benefit.
Wen also offered to help Madagascar with education and public
health undertakings.
Ravalomanana praised China's reform and opening-up and economic
progress.
Noting the two countries have much common interests,
Ravalomanana said stronger China-Africa ties would provide an
impetus to African economic development.
Madagascar would like to expand collaboration with China, he
said.
Ravalomanana reiterated that Madagascar will adhere to the
one-China policy.
Ravalomanana will attend the opening ceremony of the ADB board
meetings and business seminars before leaving Shanghai on
Friday.
(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2007)
