Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes hands with visiting Namibian President Sam Nujoma during a meeting in Beijing July 21, 2004.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Beijing Wednesday that China is ready to continuously encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Namibia and strengthen bilateral cooperation in various areas such as mining, agriculture and fishery.

During Wen's meeting with visiting Namibian President Sam Nujoma Wednesday afternoon, the Chinese premier said he hoped Namibia could create favorable conditions for the operation of Chinese enterprises in the country.

Wen highly praised Sino-Namibian relations, saying that China attaches great importance to the development of bilateral relations and is willing to work together with Namibia to strengthen and develop the traditional friendship between the two countries.

On economic relations, Wen said China and Namibia have conducted sound economic cooperation over the years, which has brought benefits to the people of both countries.

China and Namibia established diplomatic relations in 1990. The trade volume between the two countries reached 74.57 million US dollars last year, up 52 percent compared with 2002.

Regarding China-Africa relations, Wen said that the Western colonial rule remained the root of Africa's poverty and backwardness. He said political and economic uncertainty in some African countries have further impeded the development of Africa after the end of the Cold War.

The only way for African countries to achieve development is to unite with each other and rely on themselves, Wen said. He said China supports the African Union to play a greater role in realizing Africa's peace and stability and promoting the regional integration.

China is willing to strengthen cooperation with the executive committee of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and conduct mutually beneficial cooperation through the China-African Cooperation Forum, Wen said.

Nujoma said the Namibian government attaches importance to its relations with China, adding that he is visiting China to consolidate friendship and expand cooperation, and to learn from China's experiences on economic development. He said the Namibian government and people are grateful for the precious help that China has offered for many years and are willing to further expand friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with China in all fields.

Nujoma spoke highly of China's constructive role in the current international affairs. Under the present circumstances, south-south cooperation is of greater importance, he said.

He believes China will consistently support the African Union's efforts for promoting the peace and development in Africa.

Nujoma arrived here Monday on a ten-day working visit to China as guest of Chinese President Hu Jintao. It is his twelfth China visit.

President Hu met with Nujoma Tuesday. The two sides signed two agreements, one on the establishment of a joint economic and trade commission and one on economic and technical cooperation. They also signed an implementation program under the cultural agreement.

Nujoma and his entourage, including foreign minister and defense minister, will visit Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwest China and Shanghai Municipality in east China after their Beijing stay.

Source: Xinhua