President Xi to send envoy to Gambian leader's inauguration

President Xi Jinping will send a special envoy to attend the inauguration ceremony of Gambian President Adama Barrow in the capital, Banjul, on Saturday, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Ma Peihua, vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, will attend the inauguration as well as the Independence Day celebration, at the invitation of the Gambian president, ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Thursday.

Speaking at a daily media conference, he said that China and Gambia have comprehensively pushed forward cooperation in various areas, since the two countries resumed diplomatic relations in March.

The resumption of ties conforms to the trend of history, as well as the interests of the two countries and their people, he said.

"China appreciates the new Gambian government under the leadership of Barrow for adhering to the one-China policy," Geng said.

He also said that China is willing to take the opportunity of implementing the outcomes of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and work with Gambia to promote friendly cooperation in order to benefit the people of the two countries.