China, Bolivia pledge to build closer ties

Bolivian President Evo Morales and visiting Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu Thursday pledged to build closer bilateral ties by enhancing political trust and economic cooperation. Both Bolivia and China are developing countries, whose people enjoy traditional friendship, Hui said during his meeting with Morales. Bilateral relationship between China and Bolivia has been growing rapidly in recent years, he added. Hui said high-level exchanges between the two countries have been enhanced and mutual understanding deepened, and the expanding cooperation and exchanges in such fields as trade, culture, education, health, science and technology have made China-Bolivia ties richer and more colorful. The two countries have also coordinated with each other in both international and regional affairs to safeguard their common interests, said Hui. During Morales' visit to China in August, leaders of the two countries reached consensus on the development direction of bilateral relations and key areas of cooperation, which has opened up a new era of Bolivia-China relations, Hui noted. China attaches great importance to its relationship with Bolivia, and deepening bilateral cooperation is in line with the fundamental interests of both peoples, Hui said. China is willing to make joint efforts with Bolivia to effectively implement the consensus reached by leaders of both sides, enhance high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust and explore cooperation potential, he said. Morales, for his part, expressed his belief that Hui's visit would surely deepen bilateral friendship and promote common development and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. Bolivia is glad to see that China-Bolivia relations have made considerable progress in recent years, said Morales, adding he was deeply moved by the candor, sincerity and equality demonstrated by China in its cooperation with Bolivia. He hoped the two sides could continue to expand cooperation areas and enrich the foundation of bilateral relations, adding his government expects more Chinese investment in Bolivia. Morales also reiterated that Bolivia would continue to resolutely pursue the one-China policy. After the meeting, Morales and Hui attended the signing ceremony of agreements on economic and technological cooperation, agriculture, finance and telecommunications.