Xi meets Gambian president

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with Gambian President Adama Barrow after the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)   concluded Tuesday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Gambian President Adama Barrow at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua]

Xi welcomed the Gambian president's attendance at the   FOCAC meetings for the first time, saying this is of great significance to   China-Gambia relations, China-Africa relations, and the development of the   FOCAC.

In the two years since resuming diplomatic relations, the two   countries have seen their friendship and cooperation move forward   comprehensively and smoothly, and bilateral ties have developed positively and   quickly, Xi said, adding that China is satisfied with the achievements made in   the development of bilateral relations.

China commends President Barrow   and the Gambian government for adhering to the one-China principle, and is ready   to work with the Gambia to continue steering bilateral ties in the right   direction, continuously enhance political mutual trust, and continue firmly   supporting each other on issues of core interests and major concerns, Xi   said.

China supports the Gambian government's efforts in "building the   new Gambia," and is willing to increase pragmatic cooperation and expand   people-to-people exchanges with the western African country, Xi   said.

China supports the Gambia's efforts to enhance peace and security   capacity building, Xi said.

For his part, Barrow said almost all heads of   state and government of African countries attended the summit, a demonstration   of the great importance they attach to China and China-Africa   relations.

It is with great pleasure that the Gambia has returned to the   big family of Africa-China cooperation, and the Gambia is satisfied with the   achievements the two countries have rapidly made after resuming diplomatic   relations, Barrow said.

"China has helped us improve our   telecommunications, and road and transport conditions -- things that we had   wanted to do for many years but failed," Barrow said.

Facts have proved   that it is a huge mistake for the Gambia to keep the so-called diplomatic   relations with Taiwan, Barrow said.

Barrow said his country will   unswervingly uphold the one-China policy without any hesitation and is committed   to consolidating the win-win partnership with China, which fully conforms to the   will of the Gambian people, Barrow said.

Barrow said he believes that   cooperation with China will enable the Gambia to speed up its   development.

After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of   bilateral cooperation documents.