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1. Political relations The People's Republic of China and the Republic of Niger established diplomatic relations on July 20, 1974. On June 19, 1992, the transitional government of Niger declared the reestablishment of the so-called "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan. The Chinese Government thus announced its suspension of diplomatic relations with Niger on July 30 of the same year. On August 19, 1996, the two countries reestablished diplomatic relations. Bilateral relations between China and Niger have ever since made a rapid development. Chinese leaders and senior officials who visited Niger are as follows: Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Ji Pengfei (December 1978), Minister of Commerce Liu Yi (January 1987), Minister of Geology and Mineral Resources Zhu Xun (February 1990), Vice Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs Qian Qichen (January 1997), Vice Foreign Minister Yang Wenchang (June 2002), Ma Wenpu, Deputy Head of International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (September 2002), and Assistant Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation He Xiaowei (September 2002). Leaders and senior officials on the Nigerien side who visited China are as follows: Chairman of the Supreme Military Council and Head of State Seyni Kountche (September 1977 and May 1984), Chairman of the Preparatory Committee of the National Committee of Development and Society (equivalent to speaker of the parliament) Lieutenant Colonel Adamou Djermakoye (July 1983), Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahamane Sani Bako (July 1990), The Chairman of the Council of Virtuous Persons Ali Saibou (August 1996), President Ibrahim Bare Mainassara (May 1997), and Ministers of Foreign Affairs Aichatou Mindaoudou (June 1999 and May 2002 when he visited China to chair the opening ceremony of Nigerien Honorable Consulate in Guangzhou), Sabo (July 2000), and President Tandja (June 2001). 2. Trade relations and economic and technical cooperation From 1974 to 1992, the Chinese side had undertaken a number of aid projects such as the agricultural farm, reservoir, bore-hole drilling, transformation of an agricultural machinery workshop, and reclamation, multi-functional stadium, methane project, the Gaya reclamation zone, etc. Since the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1996, China has completed the following projects: check-gate installation in Ndounga, prospecting water resources in Zinder, repairing main facilities of a reservoir, constructing civil residential area, renovating stadiums, and expanding the classrooms of Niamey University and textile-dyeing mills, etc. The on-going projects are bilateral technological cooperation on the construction of stadiums, Maradi-Tiberi water-supplying pipe, and small-large agricultural implements workshops. The two countries have signed a trade agreement and established a joint economic and trade commission. In September 2002, China and Niger held the second meeting of bilateral joint economic and trade commission in the latter. The trade volume between the two countries was US$6.48 million in 2001, and bilateral trade volume in 2002 reached US$14.743 million, all of which were China's exports to Niger. China's exports to Niger are mainly rice, textiles, and telecommunication materials. Since 1988, Chinese companies have begun to labor contract and subcontract in Niger. So far, China has already undertaken the Niamey Dam and ship-lock project. The ongoing projects of cooperation between the two countries involve telecommunication, and well drilling, etc. 3. Cultural, educational, medical, and military exchanges and cooperation The two governments have signed an agreement on cultural and educational cooperation. Since 1978, China has granted scholarships to Nigerien students, and currently there are 33 Nigerien students studying in China. There was also a protocol signed between the two countries on the dispatching of Chinese medical teams to Niger. The first Chinese medical team consisting of 29 members was sent to Niger in 1976. There had been eight medical teams dispatched successively to Niger until 1992. After the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries, China resumed its medical assistance in December 1996 by dispatching medical teams to Niger. The current 36-member Chinese medical team to Niger, which has been the twelfth batch one dispatched by China, is working in Niamey, Maradi and Zinder. Niger has established a honorable consulate in Guangzhou, China's Guangdong Province, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR). In the field of military exchanges, Chief of the General Staff of the Niger Armed Forces Moussa Djermakoye visited China in November 1997. In June 1998, Political Commissar of the PLA Nanjing Military Area Command and General Fang Zuqi visited Niger. In December 1999, Colonel Boureima, Chief of Staff of the Nigerian Armed Forces visited China. In December 2002, Minister of Defense of Niger Sulai paid a visit to China. In May 1997, the city of Nanning, in Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, established a sister-city relationship with the city of Zinder, Niger. 4. Important agreements and documents The Joint Communiqué of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Niger on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations (July 20, 1974). The Joint Communiqué of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Niger on the Resumption of Diplomatic Relations, (August 19, 1996). (Chinese Foreign Ministry October 10, 2006) |
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