Sixty years ago, China established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Congo, and also that year, Denis Sassou Nguesso was among the country's first group of young people to visit China.

On Friday, Sassou Nguesso, president of the Republic of Congo, met with President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. He came for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and a state visit.

Sassou Nguesso told Xi he has visited China many times and witnessed the nation's marvelous economic and technological development.

China has become a major country in the world, the Chinese people are proud of it, and the people of the Republic of Congo deeply admire and offer their hearty congratulations on this, he added.

As both nations mark the 60th anniversary of their ties this year, Xi said bilateral friendship and cooperation "should also usher in another 60 years with even greater splendor".

Xi suggested that the two countries should undertake four roles in a dutiful manner — "flag-bearers of building a community with a shared future, pioneers of building the Belt and Road, role models of people-to-people bonds, and examples of solidarity and cooperation".

As part of the frequent top-level exchanges, the two heads of state met twice last year, and this month's state visit is Sassou Nguesso's 17th trip to China, according to Li Yan, Chinese ambassador to the Republic of Congo.

Speaking of the two countries' fine tradition in helping each other, Li mentioned in a recent article that Sassou Nguesso led the donations for building the China-Congo Friendship Primary School in quakehit Yushu of Qinghai province.

After the talks on Friday, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of a cooperation plan on co-building the Belt and Road. In 2018, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on the Belt and Road.

The bilateral cooperation documents signed on Friday also cover areas such as green and low-carbon development, housing and urban construction, investment and economic cooperation, and the digital economy.

In addition, the two sides issued a joint statement on deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership and building a high-level China-Republic of Congo community with a shared future.

Observers noted that Xi visited the Republic of Congo during his very first trip abroad after he became president in 2013, leading the two countries' ties into a new era.

China appreciates the Republic of Congo's "firm and unequivocal support on all issues involving China's core interests and major concerns", Xi said on Friday.

Beijing is willing to deepen exchanges of experience in governance, step up exchanges in various fields and at various levels, and jointly explore the path to modernization and development, he said.

China supports the Republic of Congo in developing a diversified economy and encourages Chinese enterprises to participate in the construction of its key infrastructure and regional connectivity projects, he added.

Sassou Nguesso noted that many Chinese enterprises have taken part in the construction of projects in areas such as fisheries, mining, energy and infrastructure in the Republic of Congo, boosting its economic and social development.

The Republic of Congo is willing to strengthen its friendship with China and closely cooperate with China in various fields, he said.

China is now the largest trade partner of the Republic of Congo. In 2022, the bilateral trade volume reached $6.57 billion, up 22 percent year-on-year.

Jean-Claude Gakosso, foreign minister of the Republic of Congo, said, "China's assistance to Africa is selfless, and China has no selfish intention for Africa."

"Africa is a continent with a lot waiting to be built, and Africa is a continent full of opportunities," he said at a news conference on Thursday.

What makes the Friday talks even more special is that the Republic of Congo has just become the African co-chair of FOCAC.

Xi expressed his congratulations and said China is willing to work with the Republic of Congo to better play their leading role as FOCAC co-chairs and to show the firm resolve of China and Africa to jointly build an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era.

Sassou Nguesso thanked China for its support to his country, and he said the 10 partnership actions announced by Xi at the summit lift Africa-China solidarity and cooperation to new heights.

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, also met with Sassou Nguesso on Friday.

Zhou Jin contributed to this story.

[email protected]