Chinese president vows to push ties with Togo to new heights

Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged here Thursday to push relations with Togo to a new high during a meeting with his Togolese counterpart.

Ahead of a summit on China-Africa cooperation in Johannesburg, Xi told President Faure Gnassingbe that China attaches great importance to bilateral ties and the two countries should consolidate political mutual trust and enhance cooperation to achieve common development.

The Chinese government, he said, would encourage and support its enterprises to invest and develop businesses in Togo in such areas as appliances, construction materials, textile, food processing and automobile assembly and participate in Togo's infrastructure construction so as to help build up its own industry.

China will also strive to help Togo achieve food security through cooperation in agriculture, marine fishery, as well as agricultural and fishery product processing, he added.

Xi also urged the two countries to improve security cooperation and enhance people-to-people exchanges.

Faure, for his part, said Togo cherished its traditional friendship with China and appreciated China's long-standing and valuable assistance.

Togo welcomes China's increasing investment and hopes to enhance cooperation with China in multiple areas, including food security, port and railway construction, as well as logistics, he said.

Xi stays in South Africa on Dec. 2-5 to serve as co-chair of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and for his second state visit to the country.