China's vice premier expected in Republic of Congo

Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu is expected in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, on Monday for a working visit, a diplomatic source in the Central African country has said. On Tuesday, Hui will hold a meeting with President Denis Sassou N'Guesso to discuss ways to reinforce the cooperation between China and Congo, six years after the signing of "the Strategic Partnership Agreement" between the two countries in Brazzaville, the source disclosed. The cooperation between the two countries has been termed as "fruitful and exemplary" by the Congolese government. A number of infrastructure projects have been constructed, including hospitals, roads, hydroelectric power stations and public buildings in the Republic of Congo. The Chinese vice premier will also make an inspection tour of M'pila area in Brazzaville, where explosions at an arms depot caused heavy losses of life and property on March 4. Hui will, among others, attend the inauguration of a China- funded agricultural technical training center near Brazzaville. China and the Republic of Congo established diplomatic relations in 1964. Hui left Beijing Saturday morning for an official visit to the Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. He will also go to Ethiopia's capital city Addis Ababa to attend the funeral of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on Sunday as the representative of the Chinese government.