From April 16 to 19, 2016, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Yu Zhengsheng paid an official goodwill visit to Ghana at the invitation of Parliament Speaker Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho of Ghana, during which he met with President John Dramani Mahama, held talks with Parliament Speaker Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho, attended the commissioning ceremony of China-Ghana major cooperation projects and held discussions with representatives of Chinese enterprises.

When meeting with President John Dramani Mahama, Yu Zhengsheng conveyed warm greetings from President Xi Jinping. Yu Zhengsheng said that China and Ghana enjoy profound traditional friendship and sound development momentum of bilateral relations. The meeting between President Xi Jinping and Mr. President during the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) last December charted the course for the development of China-Ghana relations. China stands ready to work with Ghana to promote the implementation of the summit outcomes including the ten major China-Africa cooperation plans and further expand and develop bilateral practical cooperation. The developments of China and Africa are important opportunities for each other. The closer China-Africa cooperation is, the more sustainable the economic developments of the two sides will be.

John Dramani Mahama expressed that Ghana and China enjoy profound and thriving friendship, close high-level exchanges and constantly strengthening cooperation in economy, trade and investment. Remarkable economic and social achievements have been yielded from major projects implemented by China in Ghana, including electric power and infrastructure. Ghana speaks highly of the Africa-China cooperation plans put forward by President Xi Jinping at the Johannesburg Summit, and expects to conduct more practical cooperation with China. Ghana and China are both committed to development, reform, anti-corruption and other causes, and Ghana is willing to enhance communication and mutual learning with China.

During the talks with Parliament Speaker Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho, Yu Zhengsheng conveyed the sincere greetings from Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Zhang Dejiang. Yu Zhengsheng noted that the cooperation between China and Africa aims at mutual benefits, win-win results and common development. China and Ghana should implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, enhance political mutual trust, promote cooperation between enterprises of the two sides at higher-level, strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and closely coordinate in international affairs. The CPPCC National Committee stands ready to enhance exchanges with the Parliament of Ghana so as to make more contributions to the development of bilateral relations.

Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho expressed that political parties and groups of the Parliament of Ghana all support the development of Ghana-China relations and are willing to enhance friendly exchanges with China, boost friendship between the two peoples, and promote cooperation between enterprises of the two countries.

Yu Zhengsheng and President John Dramani Mahama jointly attended the commissioning ceremony of the second-stage project of Sunon Asogli Thermal Power Station of Shenzhen Energy Group. Yu Zhengsheng hopes that as the first power station invested and constructed by China in Africa, it can offer quality energy services to the local people and help Ghana transform its development potential into growth impetus.

He also inspected assembly plant of garbage trucks of Jospong Group of Companies, and stated that China's equipment and technology can meet Africa's current industrialization demands and are expected to be helpful to the self-development of African enterprises.

During the discussions with representatives of China-funded enterprises in Ghana, Yu Zhengsheng encouraged the enterprises to take the implementation of the Johannesburg Summit outcomes as an opportunity to adapt to new changes in the international market and Africa's economy, endeavor to improve operation and management level and production efficiency, fulfill social responsibility and protect ecological environment so as to promote Africa's development.

Accompanied by Parliament Speaker Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho, Yu Zhengsheng laid a wreath at the tomb of Francis Nwia Kwame Nkrumah, pioneer of the African national liberation movement and founding president of Ghana. Yu Zhengsheng expressed that the traditional friendship between China and Ghana was established by the older generation of leaders of the two countries including Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai and President Francis Nwia Kwame Nkrumah. It has withstood various tests, becomes stronger and continues to develop.

Yu Zhengsheng visited the fifth batch of Chinese medical team members in aid of Ghana at China-Ghana Friendship Hospital. He encouraged aiding medical staff to promote China-Ghana medical cooperation with excellent work so as to carry forward China-Africa friendship and bring benefits to the local people.

He also attended the teaching results presentation of Chinese Section of the Department of Modern Languages and Confucius Institute of University of Ghana and expects that Ghanaian young people can pass down China-Ghana friendship, enhance exchanges with Chinese friends, learn from each other, and jointly create a brighter future for China-Africa cooperation.

When bidding farewell to Parliament Speaker Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho, Yu Zhengsheng said that his visits to the three African countries are a full success. He can deeply feel African people's profound friendship with Chinese people and has full confidence in the joint implementation of the summit results and promotion of mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields between China and Africa.

Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the CPPCC National Committee Zhang Qingli and Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee Liu Xiaofeng attended the above activities.