Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold talks with visiting President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday morning.
Sassou arrived in Beijing on Monday to attend the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and pay a state visit to China.
The three-day FOCAC summit, which opened on Wednesday, is the largest diplomatic event hosted by China in recent years, with the highest attendance of foreign leaders.
Themed "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future," the event aims to strengthen friendship and outline future cooperation between the two sides.
Xi to hold talks with president of Republic of Congo
Xi to hold talks with president of Republic of Congo
Representatives of many countries to the United States have expressed the hope for a full implementation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement.
The agreement, brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, came into effect in Gaza on Sunday. The three-phase agreement is aimed at a "permanent ceasefire between the parties", according to the mediators.
At a UN Security Council meeting held on Monday, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised the conclusion of the agreement between Palestine and Israel of the ceasefire and the exchange of detained persons, but stressed that efforts are still needed to ensure a comprehensive ceasefire, release all detained persons and increase humanitarian assistance.
Varsen Aghabekian, state minister for foreign affairs and expatriates of Palestine, said in her speech that the Palestinian side hopes the ceasefire agreement could be implemented and that the Palestinian government is ready to resume management in Gaza.
"We confirm that the Palestinian Government is ready to work with friendly brotherly countries and organizations to assume responsibility for the administration of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including restoring basic health, education, water and electricity services, ensuring the return of displaced persons to their homes, and preparing for the reconstruction phase," she said.
Right before the meeting, several representatives to the United Nations spoke to China Media Group (CMG) and what they said the most was hoping that the implementation of the agreement could hold all the way through.
"It would be good if it holds," said Vasily Alekseyevich Nebenzya, permanent representative of Russia to the United Nations.
"We welcome it so far. We hope it holds and we hope that the next steps will be taken," said Munir Akram, a Pakistani diplomat currently serving for the second time as the permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN.
"We had supported the deal some time ago," said Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, permanent representative of Guyana to the UN.
Representatives to UN hope for smooth implementation of Gaza ceasefire agreement