China, Yemen to strengthen cooperation

China's Vice President Xi Jinping has begun a visit to the Republic of Yemen. He emphasized friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

During talks with his Yemeni counterpart, Abdal-Rab Mansur Al-Hadii, Xi Jinping said the two countries should strengthen practical cooperation in fields like infrastructure development, energy and telecommunications.

He also called for strengthened exchanges and cooperation in education, public health and sports. And he promised that China would continue to dispatch health and medical teams to Yemen.

Al-Hadii says Sino-Yemeni relations are based on mutual respect, mutual support, equality and mutual benefit. And he thanked China's long lasting support on Yemen's unity and developmetn. He said Yemen is ready to work with China to push forward bilateral ties.

On the Israel/Palestinian issue, Xi said China has always held that all parties concerned should resolve disputes through political negotiations to achieve peaceful coexistence.

Xi said China is ready to continue to play a positive role in promoting peace and stability in the Mideast region.

The two leaders also attended the signing ceremony of China-Yemen cooperative agreements on economic and technological cooperation, public health and education.