Beijing, May 28th—Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, met here today with Kalla Ankourao, First deputy General-Secretary of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS) and Foreign Minister of Niger, who was accompanying President Mahamadou Issoufou’s visit to China.

Song said that China and Niger are good friends and partners. President Xi Jinping and President Mahamadou Issoufou have met twice within a year, which fully reflects the high level of bilateral exchanges. The ruling party is the source of national policy making and plays a leading role in the development of bilateral relations. The CPC is ready to deepen inter-party exchanges with the PNDS, support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, push for the early implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and promote greater development of China-Niger and China-Africa relations.

Song briefed on China-US trade frictions and China's position upon request. He said that China stands for resolving differences between countries through equal consultation and negotiation, including China-US trade frictions, and firmly opposes power politics and bullying with extreme pressure. We are ready to work with other countries, developing countries in particular, to continue to promote economic globalization, uphold multilateralism and the free trade system, and build a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind.

Kalla said that Niger sincerely appreciates China's long-term assistance to Niger and expresses deep admiration for China's great development achievements under the leadership of the CPC and General Secretary Xi. The PNDS attaches great importance to the relations between the two Parties and the two countries and is willing to learn the experience of the CPC in state governance and administration so as to better promote national development and security and benefit the general public. Niger and other African countries follow closely the development of China-US trade frictions. They believe that economic globalization is the inevitable direction of human society and development and do not accept the doubt and rejection of multilateralism. International rules cannot only serve individual countries. It is believed that the principle of openness, inclusiveness and mutual benefit advocated by China will certainly receive more and more international support.

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