Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said here Thursday that the Chinese government is ready to promote the comprehensive and in-depth development of cooperation with Guinea.

During talks with Guinean State Minister of Foreign Affairs Mamadi Conde, Li said the Chinese government treasures Sino-Guinean traditional friendship and cooperation.

China will work with the Guinean government to maintain exchanges of high-level visits, push forward bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and expand cooperation in such fields as education, health, human resources development and international affairs, said Li.

China and Guinea forged diplomatic ties in 1959. Bilateral trade in the first half of this year reached more than 81 million U.S. dollars, up 32.7 percent year on year.

Li said China-Guinea relations are of special significance in Sino-African ties as Guinea was the first sub-Saharan country to set up diplomatic ties with China.

Bilateral relations have witnessed steady and sound growth in the past years and they have treated each other on an equal footing and conducted sincere cooperation, noted Li.

He said the Chinese side appreciates Guinea's adherence to the one-China policy in the past years.

Conde, who started an official visit here Wednesday as Li's guest, expressed his admiration for China's achievements and said the Guinean government and people have always cherished a friendship toward the Chinese government and people.

Conde said Guinea has supported China in international affairs and it will, as always, adhere to the one-China policy, adding that Guinea will further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Source: Xinhua