The Republic of Congo’s President Denis Sassou N’Guesso recently finished a nine day visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. During his visit, the two countries signed 11 cooperation agreements in various areas. China has vowed stronger support for the African country’s infrastructure building and development. In an interview with a CCTV reporter Raissa Girondin, the Congolese President stressed the importance of relations with China.
Congolese President stresses importance of ties with China
Your visit took place just one year after the visit of president Xi in Congo. In both cases they are high level state visits, very important in terms of protocol. Can you make a comment on this subject?
Denis Sassou N’Guesso: First we can notice the fact that president Xi Jinping did a state visit in our home country and Africa during his very first tour out of China. Congolese leaders and myself considered it as a gesture of friendship and a great honor, it’s also the expression of 50 years of both our countries journeying together. It was not an easy ride. There was some bumps along the road but the happy moments largely outnumbered the more difficult moments. We always worked side by side. For us this visit made by the Chinese president was an expression of a very close mutual friendship between our countries and our people. In my opinion, this state visit was a concretization of this state of mind.
This new visit, Mr president, was accompanied by the signature of 11 agreements including 1 concerning the banking sector. What is it all about?
Denis Sassou N’Guesso: Yes, I think it’s a first and perhaps also a symbol. A symbol that shows the tightness of our friendship and especially the mutual desire to go further in this partnership. Simply speaking, it’s the first time in Congo there will be a commercial bank with interests both Congolese and Chinese and Congo, through its state, through its companies and through its private sector will largely benefit of it.
The fact that it’s shared 50-50 is a good sign and we think that developing and strengthening the financial sector shows our determination and that we strongly believe the cooperation between our two countries can achieve new highs. It will also allow us to finance joined programs. I think it’s a very important decision.
Talking about disasters, let’s return to the 2010 Yushu earthquake in the Qinghai region. Congo was side by side with China and helped rebuild a school which is now dedicated to the sino-congolese friendship. By the way, this school is also bearing your name. This is another proof the friendship between the 2 countries is culture-oriented. Earlier this afternoon you met with this school’s children. What was your feeling at the time?
Denis Sassou N’Guesso: It was very moving. By the way, we’re gonna have a very beautiful spectacle tonight to celebrate this journey, which marks the celebration of our 50 years of friendship between our two countries. To rebuild this school was our way to show our support but it’s only symbolic. In absolute terms it’s not a big deal. But when you have a friend and he has a tough time, even the smallest thing can warm his heart. Meeting the children was very emotional for the Chinese representatives, for the president of the national assembly and for myself. The children were very open and they offered us a wonderful show.
