President Hu Jintao and Sam Nujoma, head of Namibia's ruling
South West African People's Organization (SWAPO), agreed on Tuesday
that China and Namibia should intensify bilateral cooperation for
the benefit of the two peoples.
Hu met with Nujoma, also former Namibian president, in Windhoek
on Tuesday morning before he wrapped up his two-day state visit to
the southwestern African country.
Describing Nujoma as "an old friend of the Chinese people," Hu
spoke highly of Nujoma's contribution in developing China-Namibia
relations, and relations between SWAPO and the Communist Party of
China (CPC).
Hu, also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said
Nujoma had pioneered and was an eyewitness in developing the
friendship and cooperation between SWAPO and the CPC.
Hu said over the years the CPC had supported the SWAPO and the
Namibian people's struggle for national independence, which later
laid firm foundation for the good relations between the two
countries.
Making a high evaluation of the important role of China-Namibia
party-to-party relations for the development of bilateral
relations, Hu said that the CPC is ready to further increase
exchanges and cooperation with SWAPO, in an effort to promote the
friendly cooperation between the two countries.
Hu suggested the two parties to maintain high-level contacts to
promote mutual understanding and trust, and to learn from each
other's experience in capacity building for better governance of
the countries.
Nujoma said SWAPO committed itself to the further development of
friendly relations between the two parties and the two
countries.
Namibia hoped to expand mutually-beneficial cooperation with
China in various fields such as trade and investment, which will be
important to economic and social development of the country, Nujoma
said.
During the meeting, Hu also briefed Nujoma of the Beijing Summit
of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which was held
last November in Beijing, as well as China's efforts to take
forward the results of the summit.
Nujoma spoke highly of the summit, saying it would play a key
role in strengthening China-Africa friendship and mutually
beneficial cooperation, and in benefiting economic and social
development of African countries.
Hu left Namibia on Tuesday for South Africa, the sixth stop of
his eight-nation tour to Africa.
(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2007)
