China and Nigeria vowed to strengthen cooperation on the reform of the United Nations, according to a joint communiqué issued by the two countries in Beijing Friday.  

The communiqué was issued after President Hu Jintao held talks with visiting Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is paying a four-day state visit as guest of Hu.

The communiqué says that both sides expressed their determination to continue to cooperate closely for the attainment of global security and development through a reformed UN.

Nigeria expressed Africa's common position on the UN reforms, including the realization of two permanent seats of which Nigeria hopes to be one.

China supports expanding the representation of the vast developing countries, those in Africa included, in the UN Security Council, says the communiqué.

The two countries agreed to establish a China-Nigeria strategic partnership characterized by mutual political trust, economic benefit and mutual assistance in international affairs within the framework of South-South cooperation.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to carrying forward the tradition of China-Africa friendly cooperation, and the willingness to push forward the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership featuring long-term stability, equality and mutual benefit and all-round cooperation.

China supports the development of the African Union and the implementation of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), and is ready to combine the development goals of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum with the priority areas of NEPAD, says the communiqué.

Obasanjo is visiting in the dual-capacity of Nigerian president and rotating president of the AU.

The communiqué also says "Nigeria supports China's efforts to reunify the nation, including the formulation of the Anti-Secession Law."

It says the two countries pledged to support each other on issues relating to sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Nigeria reaffirms that "there is only one China in the world." The Chinese government is "the only legitimate government representing the whole China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory," the communiqué says.

It says China "expresses its appreciation" for Nigeria's position.

In the communiqué, the two countries expressed satisfaction with the achievements in their close cooperation in various fields since the establishment of diplomatic relations and indicated their readiness to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship through high-level exchange of visits and people-to-people contacts.

Economic cooperation is also emphasized in the communiqué. Both countries shared the view that China and Nigeria, highly complementary in economy, enjoy immense potential and broad prospects of cooperation.

They expressed readiness to cement cooperation in areas including trade, technology transfer, investment, energy, railway, communications and manufacturing so as to achieve mutually beneficial and win-win results and common development.

The two sides have decided to set up an investment cooperation working group within the framework of their Joint Economic and Trade Commission to facilitate both enterprises.

(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2005)