英语文摘:China, Cameroon pledge stronger parliamentary relationship

YAOUNDE, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China and Cameroon said on Tuesday that they would make joint efforts to step up their parliamentary ties.

The pledge came out of the hour-long talks between China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin and President of National Assembly of Cameroon Cavaye Djibril.

Jia, the chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top advisory body, is on a three-day official visit to the central African nation.

This is the first visit to the African continent by a senior Chinese leader this year.

Jia said that exchange and cooperation between the CPPCC and National Assembly of Cameroon would help boost people-to-people relationship and state-to-state relationship.

"The CPPCC would like to increase personnel exchanges with the National Assembly of Cameroon and discuss how to run the state and promote livelihood," Jia said.

Djibril said the National Assembly of Cameroon stands ready to work more closely with the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, and the CPPCC.

On the broader China-Cameroon relationship, Jia said the two countries have withstood the test of time and vicissitudes in the international arena since they established the diplomatic ties in 1971.

"The two countries have reaped new harvests in recent years," Jia said, referring to bilateral cooperation in trade and economy, science and technology, education, among others.

China appreciated Cameroon's adherence to the one-China policy and support to the most populous country on issues concerning China's core interests, Jia said.

Jia reaffirmed that China would work with Cameroon and other African countries to implement eight new measures announced last year by Premier Wen Jiabao, including debt cancellation, agriculture production, infrastructure, education.

As China and Cameroon will mark the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic ties, Jia called on the both sides to take the opportunity to boost exchanges at all levels and hold celebrations to uplift the relationship.

Echoing Jia's proposal, Djibril said his country would like to cooperate with China to advance relationship and generate benefit for their peoples.

Following the talks, Jia also delivered a key-note speech on China-African relationship.

Jia will meet with President of Cameroon Paul Biya on Wednesday.

Cameroon is the first leg of Jia's ten-day African tour which will also take him to Namibia and South Africa.