China vows to continue assistance to Namibia, says premier

China will continue to assist Namibia in its economic and social development, and participating in its infrastructure and industry construction, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao pledged in Beijing Tuesday.

"China takes Namibia as a trustworthy friend and an important partner in Asia, and will enhance the traditional friendship and economic and trade cooperation based on equality, mutual benefit and common prosperity," said Wen in a meeting with visiting Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba.

He said Sino-Namibian relations have developed smoothly since the two countries forged diplomatic ties and that bilateral cooperation in all fields has deepened. China is satisfied with it, he added.

On the reform of the United Nations, Wen pointed out that China supports improving the representation of the developing nations, especially African countries, in the UN security council, and hopes that the African countries would unite to safeguard their own interest.

Pohamba expressed his gratitude for China's long-term assistance. He said Namibia has been committed to developing its rural economy, including roads, and railway construction. It has abundant resources of minerals and fishing, and hopes to cooperate with China on infrastructure and resources exploration.

He also expressed the hope to strengthen consultations with China in the UN and in dealing with the international affairs.

China places importance on relations with Namibia: top Chinese legislator

China places importance on its relations with Namibia and regards Namibia as a trustworthy friend and partner, top legislator said in Beijing Tuesday.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Congress of China (NPC), made the remark during a meeting with visiting Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Tuesday afternoon.

Since the two countries forged diplomatic links 15 years ago, China and Namibia have maintained the healthy and rapid growth of bilateral relations and achieved rich results in various areas of cooperation, Wu said. The frequent exchanges among the high-level officials of the two countries have pushed forward the expansion of bilateral ties.

He added that the two countries have made fresh progress in cooperation in such areas as science, education, culture, justice and human resources development.

China and Namibia have maintained close consultation and coordination on international affairs, thus effectively safeguarding the interests of their own and other developing countries, he said.

Wu said China is ready to join efforts with Namibia to further enhance political mutual trust, and expand and deepen cooperation in all fields.

The NPC has maintained sound exchanges and cooperation with the Namibian parliament, and it is ready to continue such exchanges and cooperation with the new parliament in all forms, including sharing experience in legislative practice and national construction and increasing cooperation in international fora, Wu said.

Pohamba expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations and exchanges in all fields such as trade. Noting that Namibia and China share traditional friendship and have unique advantages in their efforts to build their countries, Pohamba expressed the hope that the two countries would further advance trade and economic cooperation. He welcomes Chinese companies to increase contacts with their Namibian counterparts so as to explore new ways of cooperation.

Pohamba said the exchanges and cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries play a vital role in advancing bilateral relations. He voiced the wish that the legislatures of both countries will go on exchanging experience and make joint contributions to international legal affairs.

China, Namibia hold trade session in Beijing

Senior trade officials from China and Namibia agreed in Beijing Tuesday to inspire corporate investment in both countries.

Both sides agreed that their governments will encourage local companies to invest in mining, fishing, agriculture, telecommunications, infrastructure and other key cooperative areas in the other country, according to a news release from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

The China-Namibia Economic and Trade Mixed Committee convened its first session in Beijing Tuesday afternoon.

The meeting was co-presided by Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Wei Jianguo and Namibian Minister of Trade and Industry Immanuel Ngatjizeko.

Attendants included such illustrious figures as Helmut Angula, director-general of the Namibian National Planning Commission, and Minister of Engineering, Transport and Telecommunications Joel Kaapanda, as well as executives from some Namibian companies and representatives from the Import and Export Bank of China.

The trade session was held during the visit of Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba, who is paying a state visit to China from Dec. 16 to 20.

The trade and economic officials of China and Namibia discussed such topics as expanding bilateral trade, facilitating the exports of Namibian products to China, training Namibian personnel, promoting investment and deepening cooperation in a multilateral arena.

Both sides have set forth suggestions on stepping up bilateral cooperation on the basis of reviewing the development of trade and economic cooperation in recent years, according to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

Upon the conclusion of the meeting, Wei and Ngatjizeko signed the memorandum of the first session of the China-Namibia Economic and Trade Mixed Committee.

The mixed committee was established in 2004.

China and Namibia have signed agreements on trade and investment protection in recent years.

On Monday, China and Namibia signed a number of new cooperative documents, including the agreement on economic and technological cooperation.

According to Chinese official figures, two-way trade reached 96.93 million US dollars in the first nine months of this year, growing 32.2 percent over the same period of last year.

Namibian President leaves Beijing for home

Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba left Beijing Tuesday, ending a six-day state visit to China.

During his stay in Beijing, Pohamba held talks or meetings with Chinese high-ranking officials, including President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao.

The two sides had an exchange of views on future economic and trade cooperation and further promotion of friendly relations between China and Africa.

The Namibian president also traveled to China's southern and southwestern regions.

Prohamba kicked off his China tour on Dec. 16 as guest of Chinese President Hu. This is his first visit to the country since he assumed presidency in March 2005.