Yemen Observer: http://www.yobserver.com
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Written By: Mohammed al-Kibsi
Article Date: Jun 28, 2008 - 1:42:32 AM
President Saleh welcomed the Chinese Vice President’s visit to Yemen, asserting that Chinese investment will be given all necessary assistance to serve mutual interests of both countries.
During his meeting with the Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and his accompanying delegation last Wednesday, President Saleh welcomed Chinese investment in the energy, industrial, textile fields and all other fields.
President Saleh also pointed to other opportunities for consolidating economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries, among them establishing an industrial zone for Chinese products in the Aden Free Zone.
The Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping affirmed that his visit to Yemen would enhance relations and mutual cooperation and push them forward towards broader horizons. “It is a friendship and cooperation visit,” said Xi.
Xi asserted his country’s desire to cement its relations with Yemen in different spheres, adding that China would continue supporting Yemen and provide assistance in the economic and developmental fields. Xi also expressed his county’s solidarity with Yemen and its unity and stability.
Furthermore Xi asserted that China wishes to enhance its cooperation with Yemen in the economic and commercial spheres, topped by communication, infrastructure, health and culture. He added that China would encourage Chinese companies to invest in Yemen for the interest and prosperity of both nations.
The Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived in Sana’a on Tuesday afternoon for an official two-day visit to Yemen, the last leg of his five-nation Asia tour.
Representatives of more than a hundred Chinese companies accompanied him to Yemen to hold talks with their Yemeni counterparts on investment opportunities and possibilities of establishing joint venture projects.
Upon his arrival Xi revealed to Saba news agency that China and Yemen have been partners in all-round cooperation since the two countries established diplomatic links in 1956.
“We have kept enhancing political trust, advancing trade and economic cooperation and conducting ever closer cultural exchanges” added Xi.
He said that his country places importance on relations with Yemen and is ready to work with Yemen to consolidate traditional friendship and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation. Xi said he believed that his visit will further enhance friendship between the two countries and the two peoples, and help advance bilateral relations.
The Foreign minister Dr Abu Bakr al-Qirby said that Xi’s visit came within the distinctive Yemeni Chinese ties adding that during his visit the Chinese vice president will held talks with president Saleh , vice president Hadi and Prime minister Mujawar over ways of enhancing bilateral relations and mutual cooperation,
particularly the commercial and investment cooperation.
Al-Qirby added that during his visit Xi Jinping is to take part in the inauguration of the new building of the foreign ministry which China contributed with US$ 11 million, 80 percent of the cost of constructing it.
Xi’s visit to Yemen is the first of its kind in the history of the two countries relations in terms of the level of the delegation that is headed by the Chinese vice President.
Bilateral trade volume between the two countries reached 2.705 billion dollars in 2007.
Yemen is the fourth leg of five-nation Asia tour, which has already taken him to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea(DPRK), Mongolia , Saudi Arabia and Qatar.