This combo photo shows Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) and Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. (PHOTOS / XINHUA)

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday he stands ready to work with his Equatorial Guinean counterpart, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to keep pushing bilateral relations to a new level.

In an exchange of congratulatory messages with Obiang, Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Equatorial Guinea relations and is willing to work with Obiang to consolidate political mutual trust and deepen practical cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), so as to bring benefits to the two countries and their peoples.

President Xi Jinping and his Equatorial Guinean counterpart, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, exchanged congratulatory messages as the two countries marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations

He pointed out that China and Equatorial Guinea enjoy deep traditional friendship, saying that since the establishment of their diplomatic ties 50 years ago, the two sides have always been sincere and friendly towards each other, and staunchly supported each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and of major concern, no matter how the international landscape has changed.

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The bilateral practical cooperation has been fruitful and brought real benefits to the peoples of the two countries, he added.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Xi said that China and African countries, including Equatorial Guinea, have stood together to fight the pandemic and do everything they can to protect people's lives, which has enriched the China-Africa friendship.

For his part, Obiang said in his congratulatory message that, since the establishment of diplomatic relations 50 years ago, the two countries have marched forward hand in hand, and have always maintained mutual understanding, coordination, and mutual support, with their bilateral cooperation in various fields achieving fruitful results.

Equatorial Guinea and China share similar setbacks in history, Obiang said, adding that at a time when the international community is facing major challenges, the two countries uphold a common position to safeguard the principles of multilateralism, dialogue and consultation, as well as non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, and to safeguard common interests.

He said Equatorial Guinea is satisfied with the development of bilateral relations, and is willing to work with China to keep expanding cooperation and further consolidate the friendly relations between the two countries. 

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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also exchanged congratulatory messages with his Equatorial Guinean counterpart, Simeon Oyono Esono Angue to mark the anniversary of bilateral relations

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also exchanged congratulatory messages with his Equatorial Guinean counterpart, Simeon Oyono Esono Angue, on Thursday to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations.

In his message, Wang said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties half a century ago, China-Equatorial Guinea relations have enjoyed sound and stable development.

Wang said he was willing to work with his Equatorial Guinean counterpart to implement the important consensuses reached by the two heads of state and the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit and the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19, so as to promote the continuous development of the bilateral comprehensive cooperative partnership.

For his part, Oyono said that the establishment of their diplomatic ties 50 years ago, the two countries have conducted mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation in various fields, which has helped Equatorial Guinea strengthen infrastructure building and improve people's livelihood, becoming a model of South-South cooperation.

Noting that China is a reliable strategic partner of Equatorial Guinea, he said his country will as always firmly support the one-China principle, support China in implementing the "one country, two systems" policy and will continue to work with China to uphold multilateralism and promote the building of a more just and reasonable international order.