China has all along viewed Namibia as one of the most reliable friends and will continue to strengthen friendship with the Namibian people, Chinese Ambassador to Namibia Liang Yinzhu said on Thursday in Windhoek.

The ambassador made the remarks at the reception commemorating the 57th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Since both countries established diplomatic ties 16 years ago, they have been sharing weal and woe together in the face of challenges, learning from and helping each other in nation building and understanding and supporting each other in international affairs, Liang said.

China has been supporting Namibian people in their struggle for independence and enjoyed friendship with Namibia. It was delighted to see that Namibia "has continued to score fresh achievements in its nation building ever since H. E. President Hifikepunye Pohamba swore in office," the Chinese diplomat said.

President Pohamba will go to China to attend the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in November, he added.

There have been several high-level exchange visits between the two countries in recent years. President Pohamba paid a state visit to China in December 2005 and Sam Nujoma, founding president of Namibia and president of the ruling SWAPO party, visited China in May this year. Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, visited Namibia in November 2005.

The trade volume between the two countries increased rapidly and grew to nearly 140 million U.S. dollars last year, while the economic cooperation extended to the areas of railway and telecommunication.

During the FOCAC, Chinese and African leaders will discuss ways to establish and foster a new type of strategic partnership featuring political equality and mutual trust, win-win economic cooperation and cultural exchanges and will draw a blueprint for enhancing China-Africa cooperation.

China, which regards the African continent as an important force for world peace and development, has forged diplomatic relations with 48 of 53 African countries. Trade and investment now emerge as a dominant factor in China-Africa cooperation, with bilateral trade volume roaring from some 4 billion U.S. dollars in 1995 to nearly 40 billion dollars last year.

Source: Xinhua