Chinese President Xi Jinping and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held meetings with officials from Finland, Tanzania, Italy, and the Republic of the Congo on Monday.
Finland
In his phone conversation with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, Xi said that China is willing to strengthen people to people exchanges with Finland and carry out more cooperation in scientific research and education, green and low-carbon development and jointly tackle climate change.
Niinisto responded that China is Finland’s “most important trade partner in Asia” and that the two sides have “great potential for cooperation” in the high technology and circular economy fields.
Tanzania
While talking to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Xi expressed China’s willingness to cooperate between political parties and facilitate exchanges of experience in governance. He also expressed China’s aim to expand bilateral cooperation in agriculture, transportation, communications, tourism, and energy and said that his administration would encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Tanzania.
Hassan responded that Tanzania is willing to learn from China’s experience in poverty alleviation and governance and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in trade, infrastructure, and humanities.
Republic of Congo
In a phone conversation with President of the Republic of the Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, President Xi Jinping said that China is willing to deepen cooperation in medical care and health, agriculture, and improving people’s livelihood. He added that Beijing wishes to provide vaccines and medical support for the Republic of the Congo’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, drive industrialisation and economic diversification, and promote economic and social development.
Sassou said the Republic of the Congo is willing to work with China to deepen their friendly ties in the aforementioned fields and actively build on BRI cooperation.
Italy
During a discussion with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, Wang Yi said China would open up its market at a higher level to promote high-quality development and welcome more Italian companies to invest and do business in China. He also hoped that Italy would provide “a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment” for Chinese companies in return.
Di Maio responded that Italy hopes to push forward BRI construction with China, strengthen cooperation in energy, industry, and third-party markets, and hoped that the two sides will utilise the 2022 Italy-China Year of Culture and Tourism as an opportunity to enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
Chinese Diplomacy: Weekly Round-Up (19 - 25 June, 2021)
This week, Chinese diplomats held meetings with officials from Finland, Tanzania, Italy, and the Republic of the Congo.
June 25, 2021
Xi Jinping with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto. SOURCE: AFP