Cape Verde vows to deepen cooperation with China

Cape Verde’s Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva (left) meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi

The Cape Verde government has expressed its support for  China’s Belt and Road Initiative and pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation with China.

The country’s leaders made these remarks during meetings with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Praia City, the country’s capital.

China has close ties with Cape Verde and has supported the island country since its independence, Cape Verde’s President Jorge Carlos Fonseca said on Saturday during a meeting with Wang.

Fonseca added that Cape Verde is willing to support and join the Belt and Road Initiative to deepen mutual cooperation with China.

The Sao Vicente special economic zone, the safe city project and the community housing project are the top priorities in Cape Verde’s national development agenda, Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva said on Saturday while meeting with Wang.

The Prime Minister said he hopes China can participate in these projects and contribute to the country’s economic and social development.

Cape Verde regards China as the most reliable partner for African countries, and supports China in defending its legitimate rights  and playing a greater role in international affairs, Silva said.

Cape Verde would also like to maintain communication and coordination with China on issues such as the reform of the United Nations Security Council, he added, according to Xinhua.

Wang said China supports developing countries in their defense of their legitimate rights and common interests, and advocates that every nation – large or small – should respect others as equals.

Wang continued by saying that Cape Verde is one of China’s key partners in Africa and that their bilateral traditional friendship, which is based on mutual respect and equal treatment, sets an example for large and small countries alike.

China is willing to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with Cape Verde in the fields of agriculture, fishery, marine economy, development of special economic zones, tourism, infrastructure and human resources development, he added.

In another meeting with Cape Verde’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Communities and Defense, Luis Filipe Tavares, Wang said bilateral ties between the two countries have developed quickly in recent years.

Wang said both countries focused on reaching a consensus during the meetings. He added that China would like to work with Cape Verde to inject a new impetus into bilateral cooperation, and turn friendship and trust into mutual achievements. He cited initiatives such as the China-Africa Cooperation Forum and the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation Between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries.

According to Xinhua, the Chinese Foreign Minister said that Beijing deeply appreciates Cape Verde’s support on issues regarding China’s core interests and major concerns, and will continue to defend the legitimate rights of developing countries, including Cape Verde, on the international stage. MDT/Xinhua