Xi Jinping Holds Talks with President Hery Rajaonarimampianina of Madagascar

On March 27, 2017, President Xi Jinping held talks at the Great Hall of the People with President Hery Rajaonarimampianina of Madagascar.
 

Xi Jinping pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Madagascar 45 years ago, both countries have always enjoyed equal treatment and mutual respect, shared mutual understanding and support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, and yielded fruitful results from friendly cooperation in various fields. The two countries should maintain high-level exchanges momentum, expand personnel exchanges in various fields including government, legislature institution, political party and local level and enhance experience exchanges in state governance and administration to consolidate the political foundation of bilateral friendship. China and Madagascar enjoy great potential for mutually beneficial cooperation. The Chinese side welcomes Madagascar to actively participate in the "Belt and Road" construction, and is willing to support Madagascar in playing its role as a bridge and bond along the "Belt and Road" to connect Africa, establish a comprehensive cooperative partnership with Madagascar and enhance the docking with the country within frameworks of China-Africa "Ten Major Cooperation Plans" as well as the "Belt and Road" initiative. The Chinese side stands ready to combine the actual need of Madagascar with China's comparative advantages to focus on supporting Madagascar in building three major pillars including infrastructure construction, human resource development and investment and trade facilitation, and carrying out mutually beneficial cooperation mainly centering on areas covering agriculture, fishery and other industries. Both sides should intensify exchanges among all walks of life, and further facilitate bilateral personnel exchanges. China hopes to enhance cooperation in security, police affairs, justice and law enforcement cooperation with Madagascar. China supports Madagascar to play a bigger role in international and regional affairs, and is willing to reinforce communication and coordination with the country on major international and regional issues including climate change, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as peace and security in Africa, so as to jointly safeguard the common interests of both countries and developing countries.
 

Xi Jinping stressed that the Chinese side firmly commits itself to developing the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with Africa, and will continuously adhere to the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith in its foreign policy towards Africa and the rightful viewpoint of righteousness and benefit, comprehensively implement outcomes of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and closely combine self-development with the assistance to Africa's independent and sustainable development, so as to achieve win-win cooperation and common development.
 

Hery Rajaonarimampianina expressed that Madagascar and China enjoy a long-standing friendship, and he is very glad to visit China on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries. China is an important cooperation partner of Madagascar and Africa. Madagascar deeply admires the development achievements of great China, and is willing to give play to its role as the bridge linking Africa and China, help economic and social development of Madagascar through deepening bilateral cooperation and promote Africa’s industrialization including the country. Speaking highly of President Xi Jinping’s the speech at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2017 in Davos at the beginning of this year, the Madagascan side supports the "Belt and Road" initiative, and hopes to strengthen cooperation in such fields as energy, aviation, transportation, port and airport construction. Madagascar is ready to carry out close communication and coordination in international affairs with China.
 

After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents including the Memorandum of Understanding on Jointly Advancing the Silk Road Economic Belt and Construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Madagascar, as well as documents in such areas as economy, trade and infrastructure construction.
 

Before the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Hery Rajaonarimampianina at the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People. President Xi Jinping's wife, Mme. Peng Liyuan, Vice Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Yan Junqi, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Li Haifeng and other people attended the talks.

The article is reproduced from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the P.R.C.