Chadian president meets Chinese FM for talks on cooperation, ties

Chadian President Idriss Deby and visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Thursday that bilateral cooperation had improved since the two countries resumed diplomatic ties, reports reaching Yaounde said.

President Deby first conveyed his best wishes for the new year to the Chinese people via the visiting minister.

He said resuming diplomatic relations was in the best interests of the people of both countries.

Chad, which is rich in natural resources, is facing a huge task of infrastructure construction and is willing cooperate with Chinese enterprises, said the president.

The Chinese minister said that bilateral cooperation in the economy, education, agriculture and health care has been underway since the ties were resumed.

"China is willing to work together with the Chadian side to let our two peoples enjoy the fruits of the resumption of ties as soon as possible," Li said, adding that China had sent teams of agriculture experts and medical workers to Chad.

Li is on a seven-nation tour of Africa to Benin, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Chad, the Central African Republic, Eritrea and Botswana.

On Friday, the foreign minister presided over the opening ceremony for the Chinese embassy in Chad.

Source: Xinhua