President Hu Jintao and Cape Verde's President Pedro Verona Rodrigues Pires exchanged congratulatory messages on Tuesday on the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries.

 

In his message, Hu said the relations between the two countries have witnessed healthy and steady development based on the five principles of peaceful co-existence during the past 30 years.

 

Bearing sincerity, friendship and equality in mind, the two sides have achieved remarkable fruits in their cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, trade, culture and education, Hu said.

 

Hailing the relations between China and Cape Verde as a great example for friendly cooperation, Hu said both countries showed mutual understanding and support in dealing with international affairs.

 

As two developing countries and close friends, China attaches great importance to the development of a lasting, stable and friendly cooperation with Cape Verde, Hu said.

 

China would like to make joint efforts with Cape Verde to promote the traditional friendship, expand bilateral cooperation with mutual benefit and endeavor to push the friendly cooperation between the two countries to a higher level in the new century, the Chinese president said.

 

In Pires' message, the president of Cape Verde said the bilateral relations embodied friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the two countries.

 

Cape Verde benefited much from the 30 years of constructive cooperation with China, which laid a concrete cornerstone for the further development of the relations between the two countries, Pires said.

 

The president also expressed his hope that the mutually beneficial partnership between Cape Verde and China would further develop so as to promote the progress and well-being of the people of the two countries.

 

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and his counterpart of Cape Verde Vitor Borges also exchanged congratulatory messages on the occasion.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 25, 2006)