Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong (L) holds talk with Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali on June 21.

Tunisian President Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali praised his country's friendship with China on Monday, saying the Tunisian-Chinese relations are friendly and bilateral cooperation is fruitful.

In a meeting with visiting Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong at the Presidential Palace, Ben Ali said that Tunisia and China have identical views on major international and regional issues and have always supported each other.

He hoped that the friendly cooperation will be further strengthened in various fields with joint efforts from both sides.

The president reiterated that Tunisia firmly pursues one-China policy and supports the cause of China's reunification.

Zeng said at the meeting that the friendship and mutual trust between China and Tunisia have deepened and their cooperation in various areas has been fruitful since the establishment of diplomatic ties 40 years ago.

The Sino-Tunisian cooperation can be considered as a model for South-South cooperation, he added.

Zeng also said the Chinese government attaches great importance to relations with Tunisia and is willing to take the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations as a starting point to push bilateral relations to a higher level.

The Chinese vice president arrived here Sunday for a four-day official visit to Tunisia, the first leg of his four-nation African tour which will also take him to Togo, Benin and South Africa.

Source: Xinhua