From June 11 to 13, 2018 local time, at the invitation of President of the Senate of the Republic of the Congo Pierre Ngolo, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Wang Yang paid an official goodwill visit to the Republic of Congo where he met with President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Prime Minister Clément Mouamba, and President of the National Assembly Isidore Mvouba respectively and held talks with Pierre Ngolo.

When meeting with Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Wang Yang first conveyed President Xi Jinping's warm greetings and best wishes, and expressed that President Xi Jinping expects to have an in-depth exchange of views on the development of relations between China and the Republic of Congo as well as between China and Africa in the next stage with President Denis Sassou-Nguesso at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Wang Yang said that President Xi Jinping visited the Republic of Congo during his first visit to Africa since he took office in 2013. President Xi Jinping and His Excellency President jointly decided to upgrade relations between China and the Republic of Congo to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in 2016, opening a new chapter for bilateral relations. My visit to the Republic of Congo, the first stop of my first overseas visit since I took office as CPPCC Chairman, shows the consistent importance China has attached to developing its relations with the Republic of Congo and Africa. Wang Yang expressed that the two countries have always been supporting each other on issues concerning respective core interests and major concerns and cooperating closely in international and regional affairs to safeguard the common interests. As socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, China is willing to continue to strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance political mutual trust, and focus on practical cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative with the Republic of Congo, so as to jointly build a community of shared future for China and Africa.

Denis Sassou-Nguesso asked Wang Yang to convey his warm regards and best wishes to President Xi Jinping and expressed that the Republic of Congo is a firm friend of China. The Republic of Congo highly approves the Belt and Road Initiative and the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind proposed by President Xi Jinping and looks forward to strengthening the exchange of experience in state governance and administration with President Xi Jinping at the FOCAC Beijing Forum in a bid to jointly promote relations between the Republic of Congo and China as well as between Africa and China to be elevated to new stages.

When holding talks with Pierre Ngolo, Wang Yang said that China and the Republic of Congo are good friends and good partners. The purpose of my visit is to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and to deepen bilateral traditional friendship. China is truly happy about the remarkable achievements the Republic of Congo has made in its economic and social development under the leadership of President Denis Sassou-Nguesso and firmly supports the Republic of Congo in following a development path that suits its own national conditions. Wang Yang expressed that the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as a long-term guiding ideology of the CPC and the Thought has been written into the CPC Constitution and the Constitution of the country. The CPC is willing to share experience in party building and state governance with the Congolese Labor Party, so as to make cooperation between the two parties a solid foundation of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and the Republic of Congo. The CPPCC of China stands ready to enhance exchanges with the Senate of the Republic of Congo, increase understanding, promote the integration of development strategies of both countries and act as a go-between for practical cooperation between both countries in an active manner, so as to seek well-being for the two peoples.

Pierre Ngolo expressed that China is a valuable friend of the Republic of Congo. Recent years have witnessed great changes in the country and huge improvement of people's life, which benefits from the country's robust cooperation with China. The Republic of Congo is glad to see that China has witnessed great changes and made remarkable achievements under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. The CPC has raised the great concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and shouldered its historical responsibility. The Congolese Labor Party is willing to enhance communication of development concepts with the CPC, and the Senate of the Republic of Congo is willing to be a "propeller" of relations between both countries, so as to make new contributions to consolidating relations between the Republic of Congo and China.

When meeting with Clément Mouamba and Isidore Mvouba, Wang Yang said that in recent years, under the joint guidance of the two heads of state, the two countries have achieved fruitful outcomes from cooperation in such fields as infrastructure construction, energy and resource development, air transportation, and finance. China is willing to, together with the Republic of Congo, continue to well implement and plan the important projects between both countries, create a favorable environment for bilateral cooperation, promote cooperation in livelihood, and share experience in poverty alleviation, so as to advance common development. Clément Mouamba and Isidore Mvouba expressed that the river of the friendship between China and the Republic of Congo, just like Yangtze River and the Congo River, runs a long course. They expressed their heartfelt gratitude to China's long-term and precious support for the national liberation and peace building process of the Republic of Congo.

During the visit, Wang Yang also visited joint cooperation projects between both countries including a demonstration site of "Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages Project" at the village of Kintele, the Mpila Middle School and the Sino-Congolese Bank for Africa.

Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the CPPCC National Committee Xia Baolong attended the above activities.