On September 10, 2009, Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with President Francois Bozize Yangouvonda of the Central African Republic at the Great Hall of the People. The two heads of state made positive comments on the progress made in bilateral ties since the resumption of diplomatic ties between the two countries, agreeing to consolidate the foundation, strengthen cooperation and push bilateral relations for long-term, healthy and steady development.

Hu said since the two countries resumed diplomatic relations in1998, bilateral ties have been growing healthily with the joint efforts of both sides. Bilateral economic and trade cooperation has achieved fruitful results. The trade volume between the two countries has witnessed substantial growth in the past two years and both sides have made smooth progress in carrying out cooperative projects agreed upon. China and Central Africa have conducted good cooperation in regional and international affairs, Hu said. Noting that the Central African government adheres to the one-China policy and attaches importance to its ties with China, Hu said China actively supports the peace process and economic reconstruction of Central Africa. All these have helped promote friendship and mutual trust between the two countries.

President Bozize said in recent years, Central Africa and China have developed an increasingly close relationship. He said Central Africa attaches great importance to its cooperation with China. He thanked China for providing a great deal of sincere and selfless assistance to Central Africa in the country's economic and social development. He also thanked China for standing by the Central African people during difficult times. Bozize spoke highly of the positive results of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). He said it reflects friendly feelings that China cherishes toward Africa. Bozize reiterated that Central Africa will firmly adhere to the one-China principle and support China's principled position on issues related to Tibet and Xinjiang.

"China and Central Africa are friends as well as friendly and cooperative partners," Hu said, adding that China attaches great importance to the relations with Central Africa. It has been the Chinese government's persistent policy to develop long-term, stable, friendly and cooperative relations with Central Africa on the basis of sincerity, mutual trust, equality and mutual benefit. China is ready to work with Central Africa to create a new era for bilateral ties. To achieve this goal, Hu put forward proposals in the following four aspects. First, Hu said the two countries should cement the political foundation of bilateral ties. Both sides should jointly summarize the experience in the successful development of bilateral ties and strengthen communication and coordination on major issues. The government agencies, legislative bodies and political parties of the two countries should enhance exchanges, promote cooperation and contribute to healthy and stable development of bilateral ties based on their respective features. Second, both sides should expand and advance economic and trade cooperation. China is willing to strengthen economic, trade and technical cooperation with Central Africa to bring benefits to both sides and achieve common development, Hu said. Both sides should ensure the quality and timely completion of cooperation projects under construction. He urged both sides to develop innovative ideas of cooperation, tap cooperation potential, expand cooperation area and actively discuss the possibility of cooperation in infrastructure construction, mining and oil and gas exploration and development. Third, both sides should enrich personnel and cultural exchanges and cooperation. Hu urged the two countries to create conditions and build new platforms for expanding cultural, educational, health, media and people-to-people friendly exchanges, so as to deepen mutual understanding and develop friendship. Fourth, the two countries should strengthen coordination in multilateral affairs. China is ready to maintain consultation and coordination with Central Africa under the frameworks of the United Nations and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, as well as in coping with global hotspot issues, so as to jointly safeguard the developing countries' interests. In sum, China hopes to promote all-round development of bilateral cooperation through the above measures and benefit the two countries and their peoples with new achievements and results.

Bozize said he fully agreed with President Hu's proposals on the development of bilateral ties. He said his visit shows the will of Central Africa to further advance bilateral ties and make bilateral cooperation more practical, effective and vigorous. Bozize expressed the willingness to work with China to tap the potential of bilateral cooperation by strengthening cooperation in mining, forestry, agriculture, energy and resources development. Central Africa welcomes Chinese companies to invest there and will continue offering support to Chinese companies, so as to push bilateral ties to a new level.

After the meeting, President Hu and President Bozize attended the signing ceremony of the agreement on economic and technological cooperation between the two governments and other cooperative documents. Prior to the talks, President Hu held a welcoming ceremony for President Bozize at the Square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People. Among those who attended the welcoming ceremony were Vice Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress Yan Junqi, State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Huang Mengfu, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang (RCCK) Xiu Fujin, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Chinese Ambassador to the Central African Republic Shi Hu.