Central African Republic's newly elected President Faustin Archange Touadera (L) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy and head of the State Forestry Administration Zhang Jianlong during their meeting in Bangui, Central African Republic, March 31, 2016.(Xinhua/Huang Yanan)
The new Central African Republic President Faustin Archange Touadera on Thursday held talks with the Special Envoy of China's president who is also director of the State Forestry Administration, Zhang Jianlong.
During the meeting in the capital Bangui, the two parties shared their willingness to improve cooperation and boost bilateral relations.
While thanking China's special envoy for his presence in the country which, according to Central African Republic president, demonstrates the importance attached to the bilateral ties by China, Touadera expressed his appreciation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
He said China had understood well the Central African Republic's needs and that cooperation between the two countries was always beneficial to the interests of both their peoples.
Touadera noted that Africa, and particularly his country, will benefit from the aid that was announced in December last year by Chinese president during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation that was held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Zhang delivered Xi's congratulations to Touadera for winning Central African Republic's presidential elections, noting that China wants to reinforce friendship between the two countries.
Touadera was sworn in as president on March 30, 2016. His election is considered by many as an opportunity to restore normalcy in Central African Republic after close to three years of political crises and conflicts.
