Chinese, Togolese presidents agree to upgrade cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) holds a welcoming ceremony for Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and visiting Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe agreed in their talks on Monday to promote bilateral ties to a new level through enhanced cooperation in various fields.

Invited by Xi, Gnassingbe is paying a state visit to China from May 29 to June 2.

The China-Togo friendship was forged and cultivated by the late Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema and several generations of Chinese leaders, Xi said, noting their relationship has become a model of ties between large and small countries.

China-Togo cooperation has bright prospects since the two economies are highly complementary, Xi said.

The two sides should strengthen political mutual trust, continue high-level contact, enhance friendly exchanges between governments, political parties, legislative bodies and at local levels, said Xi.

Both countries should enhance policy communication and overall planning for bilateral cooperation, according to the Chinese president.

Xi pledged China will encourage its businesses and financial institutions to support Togolese infrastructure construction and help the nation establish an industrial system of independent and sustainable development.

China is ready to push forward agricultural technology cooperation with Togo to enhance the latter's agricultural added value and increase farmers' income, said Xi.

In security cooperation, China is willing to strengthen bilateral ties in combating piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and transnational organized crime, said Xi, adding China will help Togo enhance its capacity building in national defense and stability maintenance.