Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 26th
Joint statement of People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Democratic Republic of Congo on establishing comprehensive strategic partnership.
At the invitation of President People’s Republic of China (PRC), President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Chilombo of the Democratic Republic of the Congo paid a state visit to People’s Republic of China (PRC) from May 24 to 29, 2023.
During the visit, the two heads of state held talks in a cordial and friendly atmosphere, exchanged in-depth views on China-Congo, China-Africa relations and international and regional issues of common concern, and reached broad and important consensus.
People’s Republic of China (PRC) the State Council Prime Minister Li Qiang and the NPC Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji met with President Tshisekedi respectively.
The two heads of state said that since the normalization of diplomatic relations between People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1972, the friendship between the two countries has stood the test of time for 51 years and has grown stronger for the benefit of the two peoples.
The two heads of state expressed satisfaction with this and believed that China-Congo friendship is a common treasure of both sides, which deserves constant strengthening and careful maintenance by both sides. In order to further consolidate political mutual trust and deepen and expand pragmatic cooperation in various fields, the two heads of state announced that they would upgrade their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Congo once again warmly congratulates The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China（CPC） and China on the successful convening of the National People’s Congress. President Tshisekedi warmly congratulated the Supreme Leader on his outstanding leadership of China and his re-election as President of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and People’s Republic of China (PRC).
1. Both parties agree that:
(a) will further play the leading role of the head of state diplomacy, maintain the momentum of political dialogue and high-level exchanges between the two countries, and strengthen mutual trust and joint efforts between the two countries;
(2) Further enhance China-Angola relations and expand cooperation to various fields that are in line with the interests of both sides, such as education, scientific research, health, infrastructure construction, mining, agriculture, digital, environment, sustainable development, hydrocarbon fuel, energy, defense and security;
(3) Constantly enhance the exchanges between the two peoples, carry out close cultural exchanges and interactions, promote tourism, and consolidate the achievements made in the field of human rights in the spirit of independence and mutual respect;
(4) maintain consultations, revitalize the mechanism of the mixed economic and trade commission between the two countries, which is a powerful framework for planning, promoting and guiding bilateral cooperation, and jointly promote the comprehensive strategic partnership;
(5) Strengthen the exchange of experience, better meet the goals of Chinese modernization and rigid economic and social development, and establish a fruitful, innovative, fair, closer and more stable strategic partnership;
(6) Strengthening mutual support on issues involving each other’s core interests is the core essence of China-Congo relations. Here, China reiterates its firm support for the Congolese side in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, safeguarding its own security and development interests, firmly supporting the Congolese side in steadily advancing major domestic political agendas, firmly supporting the Congolese people in independently choosing a development path that suits their national conditions, and resolutely opposing external forces’ interference in the internal affairs of Congo. The Congolese side reiterated its firm adherence to the one-China principle, believed that Taiwan Province was an inalienable part of China, and opposed any words and deeds that undermined China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Support each other in international affairs and safeguard the international order based on international law and norms of international relations in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and relevant international conventions;
(8) Strengthening solidarity and cooperation among countries, supporting true multilateralism and promoting the building of a community of human destiny;
(9) Strengthen cooperation in the field of peace and security, especially close military exchanges between the two countries and cooperation in personnel training, combating transnational crimes, equipment technology, military industry, joint performances and joint training. The two sides agreed to strengthen the protection of the security and legitimate rights and interests of each other’s citizens and institutions in their own countries. China has provided assistance to the Congolese side in the implementation of the Military Planning Law and military capacity building;
(ten) under the framework of strategic partnership established by the Mixed Commission, promote cooperation in the investment field according to the market rules and relevant contract terms signed. The two sides are willing to promote the high-quality development of investment cooperation between the two countries in the spirit of marketization and contract. China will encourage more enterprises to invest in Gangang, participate in infrastructure construction in accordance with the relevant plans formulated and promoted by Gangang, and help Gangang’s diversified economic development and industrialization process. China will help Congo implement the digital transformation plan, continue to expand investment and financing cooperation with Congo, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in agriculture, processing and manufacturing, and natural resources exploration, development and local processing to increase its added value, and support Congo to achieve independent and sustainable development. Gangfang will further improve the business environment, provide good conditions for China enterprises to start business, and effectively protect their legitimate rights and interests. At the same time, China enterprises should abide by the laws and regulations;
(eleven) regularly evaluate the mining cooperation, and consolidate the relevant cooperation from the long-term and mutual interests of the two countries. In the spirit of mutual trust, pragmatism and fairness, problems arising in the process of cooperation should be solved through friendly consultation. China will continue to encourage enterprises to speed up the implementation of the agreed infrastructure projects, strengthen cooperation with Gangfang Mining, encourage enterprises to participate in the development projects of Gangxin energy battery value chain, and support the upgrading of Gangxin industrial chain and enhance its independent development capability;
(12) Strengthen consultation and coordination on the affairs of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, highly value the important role of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in promoting China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, and jointly implement pragmatic cooperation in various fields within the framework of the Dakar Action Plan (2022-2024);
(13) Deepen high-quality cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
2. China welcomes Congo to join the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative. Congo is willing to strengthen cooperation with China on the implementation of global development initiatives, global security initiatives and global civilization initiatives at the bilateral and multilateral levels.
3. China is highly concerned about the situation in the eastern part of the country and believes that countries in the Great Lakes region are a community of destiny and security. China calls on all countries concerned to abide by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the Charter of the African Union, and to respect and safeguard the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of all member States. China condemns violence and human rights abuses by armed groups, expresses sympathy to the Congolese people who have been victimized by criminal acts, and supports the reconstruction of trust and peace through the implementation of the Nairobi process and the Luanda road map. China supports the efforts of relevant regional organizations to restore peace and security in eastern Congo. China firmly supports Africans to solve African problems in an African way, and supports and encourages relevant regional organizations and the special envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for the Great Lakes region to continue to play a constructive role.
4. China appreciates President Tshisekedi’s insistence on "people first" as the policy, just as the development thought of "people-centered" put forward by the Supreme Leader. He spoke highly of the remarkable achievements made by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, under the leadership of President Tshisekedi, in advancing the domestic political, economic and social development agenda, safeguarding national security, stability and territorial integrity, and enhancing the country’s international influence. China believes that under the leadership of President Tshisekedi, peace and stability will be accelerated throughout the country and economic and social development will be restarted quickly.
5. The Congolese side spoke highly of China’s support for projects such as the Central African Culture and Art Center and the Kolovic Vocational and Technical Training School. China will strengthen cooperation with Congo in vocational and technical education and continue to send medical teams to Congo.
6. The two sides promised to implement the important consensus and relevant cooperation agreements reached during this visit.
7. Both sides agreed that the complete success of President Tshisekedi’s visit to China is of great significance to promoting the development of China-Congo relations and building a community of destiny between China and Africa in the new era.
8. President Tshisekedi expressed heartfelt thanks to the Chairman of the Supreme Leader and the government and people of China for their warm and friendly reception to the couple and the Congolese delegation during their visit, and invited the Chairman of the Supreme Leader to pay a state visit just now. The specific date was decided by the diplomatic channels of both sides.
关于作者