Chinese delegation calls on Speaker of Parliament

Accra, Feb 14, GNA - A twelve man delegation of the China People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Monday called on the Speaker o= f Parliament Mrs Joyce Bamford 96 Addo in Accra.

CPPCC is a political consultative conference of the patriotic United Front of the Chinese people and an important organ for the development of multi-party co-operation and political consultation founded shortly before the birth of New China.

The delegation earlier visited the tomb of the First President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr Kwame Nkrumah and laid a wreath in his memory. They also visited the Chamber of parliament and were taken through som= e brief democratic history of the country.

The Leader of the delegation Mr Li Zhao Zhou Vive, Chairman of CPPCC said the visit was to give new impetus to the relationship built over the years between the two countries.

Mrs Bamford-Addo said Ghana and China had long standing relations since independence. She noted that this relationship was constantly energised by periodic visits by the leaders of the two countries. "Since independence Ghana had diplomatic relations with China and continues till date," she said adding 93you are not only friends but bro= thers for it is better to see each other than hear from each other." She thanked China for its constant assistance to Ghana notably the financial assistance to the construction of the Bui dam, and the refurbishment of the Job 600 building, adding that 93we cannot count the benefits." She called for a strong interaction between the parliaments of the two countries. Mr Mike Oquaye, Second Deputy Speaker, called on the Chinese governmen= t to build a monument to be called Ghana-China Complex to seal the good relationship between the two countries.

The Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, said Ghana had much to learn fro= m China in terms of economic and political development. He said Ghana and China must sustain their relationship for the good o= f the two countries and humanity.

Mr Abrose Dery, Deputy Minority Leader congratulated the delegation an= d the people of China for being the second largest economy in the world and appealed to them to use the position to bring equity in world economy and trade.

There was an exchange of gifts between the two leaders. The Speaker presented a Kente cloth and a plague to the Mr Li on behalf of parliament and the people of Ghana.