Beijing, 10 July (Xinhua) - Vice State President Xi Jinping held talks with Liberian Vice President Joseph Boakai at the Great Hall of the People on the afternoon of 10 July.

Xi Jinping said that since the restoration of China-Liberia diplomatic relations in 2003, the leaders of the two countries have paid special attention to developing bilateral relations. The two sides have treated each other frankly and sincerely, respected each other and trusted each other, continuously deepened trade and economic cooperation and cooperation in other areas, and supported each other in international affairs. China thanks the Liberian Government for adhering to the one-China principle and giving firm support to China on the Taiwan issue and issues involving Tibet.

Xi Jinping said that China-Liberia friendship has brought solid interests to the two countries and the two peoples. Against the current backdrop of the continuous spreading of the international financial crisis, it is all the more necessary for China and Liberia to help each other like people in a storm-tossed boat, jointly overcome current difficulties, and jointly resist the impact of the international financial crisis. China is ready to carry out closer friendly exchanges with Liberia, deepen trade and economic cooperation, expand humanities exchanges, strengthen multilateral cooperation, and promote continuous development of the relations between the two countries.

Xi Jinping said that in recent years, important progress has been made in implementing various follow-up measures put forward at the Beijing Summit of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum and a new type of China-Africa strategic partnership has developed comprehensively and rapidly. China is ready to closely cooperate with African countries to jointly and properly hold the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the forum scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year and push China-Africa cooperation to a higher level.

Joseph Boakai said that the friendship between the people of Liberia and China dates back to ancient times. Since President Johnson-Sirleaf took office in particular, the leaders of the two countries have visited each other and Liberia-China relations have entered a brand-new stage of development. Liberia thanks China for providing help and support for the reconstruction of Liberia and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to go to Liberia to make investment, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in mining, agriculture, capability building and other areas, and promote the continuous development of Liberia-China partnership.

Joseph Boakai reiterated that the Liberian Government adheres to the one-China policy and firmly supports China's principled stand on the Taiwan issue and issues involving Tibet.

After the talks, Xi Jinping and Joseph Boakai jointly attended a ceremony for signing an agreement on economic and technological cooperation between the Chinese and Liberian Governments and other documents.

Before the talks, Xi Jinping held a ceremony to welcome Vice President Joseph Boakai on the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People. Present at the ceremony were Chen Changzhi, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Huang Mengfu, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Wang Guangya, vice foreign minister, and Zhou Yuxiao, Chinese ambassador to Liberia.