On September 16, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks at the Great Hall of the People with Joao Bernardo Vieira, president of Guinea Bissau, who is here for the closing ceremony of the Beijing Paralympics.

"The people of our two countries have always supported each other, and have forged deep brotherly friendship,” said Hu. The bilateral relations have developed swiftly with progress in many fields, Hu said, pointing to smooth progress of cooperation on agriculture, fishery, health and human resources training. Hu expressed appreciation of Guinea Bissau's adherence to the one-China policy, as well as its support to China on issues concerning Taiwan and Tibet.

Hu said that the Chinese side is willing to advance the bilateral relations. He suggested both sides build political trust and expand exchanges and cooperation between the governments, legislative bodies and parties of the two countries and their peoples. Hu urged both sides to well implement intergovernmental cooperative projects and step up efforts in carrying out those under construction. Both sides should also broaden business cooperation, he said, adding that the Chinese government supports competent Chinese companies to invest in Guinea Bissau. He expressed hope that both sides can enhance bilateral cooperation on fishery, energy and infrastructure construction and develop collaboration in health care and human resources training.

President Vieira said the friendly relations with China were established during the period when Guinea Bissau was striving for national independence and such ties have been further consolidated and developed in the new period. Currently bilateral cooperation has been expanding with smooth progress of cooperative projects, he said, hailing China’s precious support and assistance for Guinea Bissau’s economic and social development. The two countries have cooperated well within such international and regional organizations as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries and the United Nations. Guinea Bissau will steadfastly support China's position on the issues concerning Taiwan and Tibet, Vieira promised, adding that his country looks forward to more cooperation with China in such fields as transport, telecommunication, trade, investment, energy and infrastructure construction.

On China-Africa relations, the Chinese president pointed out that it was an important part of China’s independent foreign policy of peace, as well as China's long-term strategic choice to consolidate and develop friendly cooperation with the African countries. The implementation of the eight policy measures towards Africa that the Chinese government announced at the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has made significant achievements. China has increased aid to Africa, basically finished writing off debts and tariff exemption and successfully launched China-Africa Development Fund. Such China-assisted projects as schools, hospitals and agricultural technology demonstration centers are under implementation and China has helped the African countries train 8,400 people. China will continue to work with African countries to comprehensively implement the consensus reached at the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and will push forward the China-Africa new strategic partnership in a down-to-earth manner, he added.

Vieira said Guinea Bissau is ready to strengthen cooperation with China within the framework of FOCAC.

Hu thanked the government and people of Guinea Bissau for their support of the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games and expressed gratitude for the sympathy and condolences extended by Guinea Bissau following the devastating earthquake that hit China’s Sichuan province. Vieira also congratulated Hu on the success of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics.

After the talks, both leaders attended a signing ceremony of several documents on bilateral cooperation including an agreement concerning economic and technological cooperation.

Ling Jihua, Wang Huning and Dai Bingguo attended the meeting.