Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Angolan Minister of State Carlos Maria Feijo in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 26, 2011. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- China has pledged to work more closely with Angola to seek a stronger strategic partnership.

The pledge came out of the meeting between Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and Angolan Minister of State Carlos Maria Feijo in Beijing on Wednesday.

Xi said China-Angola relations have developed smoothly since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1983.

The two countries have witnessed frequent high-level exchanges and deeper mutual trust in recent years, Xi said, stressing the establishment of a strategic partnership last November has lifted bilateral relations to a new high.

"China would like to work with Angola to deepen pragmatic cooperation in all fields, communicate and coordinate closely on multilateral issues and flesh out the bilateral strategic partnership," Xi said.

Feijo, who is on a six-day visit to China at the invitation of Vice Premier Wang Qishan, characterized China as Angola`s "reliable friend and strategic partner," as China had supported Angola`s peace process for a long time and is currently playing an active part in Angola`s national construction.

Feijo said Angola has been satisfied with political, trade and economic cooperation with China.

Angola would like to work with China to carry out cooperative agreements, expand areas of cooperation and seek deeper growth in the bilateral strategic partnership, Feijo said.

On broader China-Africa relations, Xi said China will, as always,take African concerns seriously, support the continent`s efforts to safeguard its interests and promote economic and social development.

Feijo will conclude his China visit on Friday. 
 
 

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Angolan Minister of State Carlos Maria Feijo in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 26, 2011. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)