Premier Li Qiang met with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki in Beijing on Tuesday, saying that China hopes to carry on its traditional friendship with Eritrea.

China stands ready to deepen political mutual trust with Eritrea, and work with the African country to consolidate mutual support on issues involving their core interests and major concerns, Li said.

China also hopes to better align its development strategies with those of Eritrea to provide more impetus for the modernization drives of the two countries, he said.

Li said China is willing to expand trade with Eritrea within the framework of high-quality Belt and Road Initiative cooperation, deepen ties in the mining industry, agriculture, infrastructure and education, and potentially work together in developing clean energy and the blue economy.

Li called on the two nations to maintain close coordination in multilateral areas to safeguard the interests of developing countries.

China will always remain a true friend to Eritrea and other African countries, Li said, adding that China hopes to work with African countries to do a good job in implementing the outcomes of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

Afwerki said Eritrea firmly follows the one-China principle, and firmly supports China's position over the Taiwan question and issues related to the Xinjiang Uygur and Xizang autonomous regions, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the South China Sea.

In a meeting with Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane in Beijing on Monday, Li said China hopes to continue to expand mutually beneficial cooperation with Lesotho and deepen cooperation in infrastructure, energy, agriculture, textiles, education and tourism.

wangqingyun@chinadaily.com.cn