Solid friendship with Eritrea emphasized

China and Eritrea should work as good brothers with close affinity, good partners for win-win cooperation and good friends jointly upholding fairness and justice, President Xi Jinping said on Monday during his meeting in Beijing with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki.

Xi emphasized the long-standing mutual trust and strong support between China and Eritrea since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1993.

He praised Eritrea's commitment to an independent foreign policy, saying that China is willing to deepen political mutual trust and promote practical cooperation with the African country to achieve common development.

Xi called for utilizing initiatives and platforms, such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa, to deepen bilateral cooperation on energy, infrastructure and agriculture, in order to assist Eritrea in its industrialization and agricultural modernization.

Afwerki, who first visited China 57 years ago, praised China's remarkable development achievements and increasing global influence, acknowledging China's significant role in the reform of the global governance system.

He expressed Eritrea's commitment to the one-China policy and the desire to deepen cooperation with China in energy, infrastructure, maritime affairs and other fields.

He emphasized the importance of China-Africa cooperation in helping African countries achieve development.