Feature: "China is a great Eastern country"

On the afternoon of May 28, President Xi Jinping held talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with President Obiang Nguema Obiang of Equatorial Guinea, who was in China for a state visit. Before the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Obiang at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People. Photo by reporter Yin Bogu

"You are a senior statesman in Africa and an old friend of the Chinese people. China actively supports the economic and social development of Equatorial Guinea, and we will always remember your country's kind deeds of providing timely help to the people in the Wenchuan earthquake-stricken area and donating funds to build a Hope Primary School in Jinping County, Yunnan Province."

On the afternoon of May 28, President Xi Jinping held talks at the Great Hall of the People with President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, who was in China for a state visit. A heart-warming opening statement reminds people of the true past.

President Obiang, who was visiting China for the 11th time, said affectionately to President Xi Jinping: China is a great oriental country and a good brother and reliable strategic partner of Equatorial Guinea. Important projects such as the China-Africa Medical Team and the China-Equatorial Guinea Friendship Hospital helped to build have benefited the local people and become symbols of Africa-China friendship.

In 2008, Equatorial Guinea donated 2 million euros to the earthquake-stricken area in Wenchuan, Sichuan, to express its deep condolences and firm support to the brotherly Chinese government and people; in 2015, President Obiang Nguema Obiang announced during his visit to China that he would donate funds to Jinping County in Yunnan Province Build a primary school to express gratitude to China for its long-term assistance in the development of Equatorial Guinea...

This is the China-Equatorial Guinea Friendship Primary School located in Jinping County, Yunnan Province. Photo by reporter Hu Chao

Equatorial Guinea, an African country with a population of less than 2 million, took the initiative to extend a helping hand to China when it still needed help for its own development.

"The cooperation between China and Equatorial Guinea has always been based on equality and mutual respect, and has never imposed force on others." President Obiang said with emotion.

President Xi Jinping pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than half a century ago, the two sides have always helped each other, stayed together through thick and thin, and firmly supported each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns. This has become a vivid reflection of China and African countries' sincere friendship and joint development.

On the same day, the two heads of state announced that they would upgrade China-Equatorial Guinea relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

China is the largest developing country in the world, and Africa is the continent with the largest concentration of developing countries in the world. Since the new era, China has always developed China-Africa unity and cooperation based on the concept of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith, and the friendship and cooperation between China and Africa have become even tighter.

This year is a great year for China-Africa relations. The new Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will be held in Beijing in the autumn. China and African brothers will gather together again. In the 24 years since the forum was established, China-Africa trade volume has increased more than 20 times. China has always supported Africa's independence, unity and self-reliance.

"Developing solidarity and cooperation with African countries is an important cornerstone of China's foreign policy. China is willing to work with Africa to successfully hold a new summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, further carry forward traditional friendship, deepen solidarity and cooperation, discuss future development and cooperation plans, and start the construction of a China-Africa Cooperation Forum. A new chapter in a community with a shared future.” President Xi Jinping met with African friends in the near future.