The inauguration conference of the West African Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China (CPPRC) was held in Lagos, Nigeria on July 9 and 10. H.E. Mr. Wang Yongqiu, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Liu Yinghai, Chinese Consul-General in Lagos, Mr. V. N. Chibundu, Chairman of the Nigeria-China Friendship Association, and CPPRC representatives from 13 West African countries, including Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo were present at the inauguration. Mr. Wang Changyu, Deputy Secretary-General of CPPRC, came to Nigeria to extend congratulations. A Proclamation of the West African Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China was adopted at the conference, which called on all Chinese citizens and ethnic Chinese in West Africa to unite against "Taiwan independence" and support the reunification cause of China. It urged them to uphold the one China policy, oppose all forms of splittist activities aimed at "Taiwan independence" and work for the early realization of China's reunification.
Ambassador Wang expressed cordial congratulations to the inauguration of the Council through a goodwill speech at the convention. He emphasized that realizing reunification and opposing separation is a fine tradition of the Chinese nation, and national reunification has been goal for which the Chinese people have worked generation after generation. He said that to oppose the "Taiwan independence" activities aimed at splitting China and to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits is the most pressing duty of all the Chinese people, including the compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. Ambassador Wang called on all Chinese citizens and ethnic Chinese in West Africa to keep sober-minded about the true nature of Chen Shuibian as an advocate for "Taiwan independence", which has done enormous harm to the interests of the Chinese people across the Straits and around the world. He appealed to participants to combat all forms of splittist activities aimed at "Taiwan independence" and, with the West African Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China in place, enhance exchanges and cooperation and contribute further to the great cause of the peaceful reunification of China. H.E. Mr. Oluyemi Adeniji, Foreign Minister of Nigeria, sent to the conference a goodwill message, stating that the peaceful reunification of China is in the interest of world peace, security and development and that Nigeria welcomes the setting up of the CPPRC dedicated to the objective of ensuring China's peaceful reunification.
Ambassador Wang Yongqiu also met with CPPRC representatives from the West African countries in Abuja during their visit in the Capital of Nigeria on July 11.