China is willing to further promote friendly cooperation with Yemen, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Thursday in Sanaa when meeting with his Yemeni counterpart Abu Bakr Abdullah al-Kurbi.

The Sino-Yemeni relationship has developed smoothly since the two countries forged diplomatic relations 48 years ago, said Li, who arrived here Thursday morning for a three-day visit.

China and Yemen have supported each other in international affairs and expanded their cooperation in the political, economic, cultural and health fields, said Li.

"The Chinese government is willing to make joint efforts with Yemen to further promote their traditional friendly cooperation," he added.

Yemeni Foreign Minister al-Kurbi said the Yemeni people appreciate the long-term help and assistance from China, which has reflected the friendship between the two countries.

The Yemeni government hopes to boost its cooperation with China and encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country, he said.

Yemen will continue pursuing the one-China policy and supports China's stance on the Taiwan issue, said the Yemeni foreign minister, adding that he believes China will achieve its national reunification.

He said Yemen highly appreciates China's independent foreign policy of peace as well as its positive role in promoting the regional and global peace, stability and development.