On November 21, 2005, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Huang Ju held talks with Madagascan Prime Minister Jacques Sylla in Antananarivo. Both sides exchanged in-depth views and reached broad consensus on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common interest.

Huang made positive comments on the development of bilateral relations. He said that the friendly exchanges between both peoples enjoy a time-honored history and have become an important link and unique advantage for developing bilateral friendly relations. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1972, bilateral relations and cooperation in economy, trade and other areas have witnessed steady development. In recent years, the leaders of both sides have attached great importance to developing bilateral relations with an increasing of high-level exchanges, which has strongly pushed for in-depth progress of bilateral friendly cooperative relations. Both sides have witnessed expanded bilateral cooperation in economy, trade and other areas, steady and rapid trade growth, increasingly dynamic mutual investment and enhanced exchanges in the areas of humanities including culture and education. Both sides have also further strengthened consultations in international affairs. China appreciates Madagascar's efforts in adhering to the one-China policy and supporting China's grand cause of reunification.

Sylla agreed with Huang's positive comments on bilateral relations. He said that bilateral friendship goes back to ancient times. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, in particular in recent years, both sides have maintained high-level exchanges, deepened bilateral relations, further expanded cooperation area, made new headway in economic and trade cooperation and maintained mutual support and sound coordination in international affairs. The steady development of bilateral friendly cooperative relations has played an important role in promoting Madagascar's economic growth. The Madagascan government and people sincerely thank for China's support and assistance. The Madagascan government will as always resolutely pursue the one-China policy.

Huang noted that both sides are developing countries and to deepen traditional friendship and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation is beneficial to realizing common development and conforms to the long-term and fundamental interest of both peoples. China would like to join hands with Madagascar to earnestly implement the important consensus reached between the heads of state of both sides and jointly push for all-round and in-depth development of bilateral relations and cooperation.

Huang made suggestions on furthering bilateral relations in the following four aspects. First, to maintain high-level exchanges, exchange views on issues of common interest in time, build up mutual political trust, expand common interest and push for in-depth development of political relations. Second, to strongly advance economic and trade cooperation. Both sides should actively implement cooperation programs agreed upon, try to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in the areas of investment, infrastructure construction and agriculture and take measures to push for balanced trade growth. They should also give a role to the mixed committee on economy and trade between both governments and provide facilitation and guarantee for positive and orderly development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Third, to deepen cooperation in human resources development, summarize experience in time and actively explore new cooperation approaches. Fourth, to expand exchanges and cooperation in the areas of culture, education, health, tourism and sports, enhance people-to-people friendship and push for all-round development of bilateral relations. China decided to list Madagascar as a tourist destination country for Chinese citizens going abroad.

Huang said that during the UN Summit, Chinese President Hu Jintao announced China's five major measures for supporting accelerated development of developing nations, which has offered a new favorable opportunity for furthering China-Africa comprehensive cooperation. China would like to work with Madagascar and other African countries to earnestly implement these measures within the framework of China-Africa Cooperation Forum so as to deepen China-Africa cooperation and promote common development.

Sylla expressed full agreement with Huang's suggestions. He said that these suggestions are conducive to further strengthening bilateral cooperative relations and Madagascar would like to keep closer cooperation with China, actively implement these suggestions, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in the areas of economy and trade, infrastructure construction, investment and telecommunications and push for in-depth development of bilateral relations and cooperation on the existing sound basis. Madagascar would like to strengthen communication and collaboration with China in international and regional issues, promote Africa-China friendly cooperation and safeguard unity of developing nations.

Prior to the talks, Sylla held a grand welcoming ceremony in his Prime Minister's Palace for Huang. Following the talks, Huang and Sylla jointly attended the signing ceremony of the agreement on economic and technological cooperation between both sides and other three cooperation documents. On the night of the same day, Huang also attended the welcoming banquet held by Prime Minister Sylla. Huang and Sylla delivered enthusiastic and friendly speeches respectively.

At the invitation of Madagascan Prime Minister Sylla, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Huang Ju arrived in Antananarivo on the afternoon of November 21 local time, kicking off his official visit to Madagascar.