Ｎｉｇｅｒｉｅｎ Ｐｒｅｓｉｄｅｎｔ’ｓ Ｗｉｆｅ Ｌａｒａｂａ Ｔａｎｄｊａ ｉｎ Ｃｈｉｎａ

In the spring season when flowers were in full bloom， Nigerien president’s wife Laraba Tandja and her party visited Beijing and Shenzhen from April 11 to 19. She visited the China National Children’s Centre， the Beijing Olympic venues， the headquarters of Huawei Technologies Co.， Ltd. and the Shenzhen Splendid China Folk Culture Village， and called on the All-China Women’s Federation and the China Charity Federation.

When meeting with Chen Zhili， vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and president of the All-China Women’s Federation， Mrs. Tandja briefed about the present conditions of the Nigerien women and children and the MAGAMA Foundation she had created. The foundation has already provided free vocational training and basic health care for more than 500 poor women and enjoys a good reputation in Niger. NPC Vice Chairperson Chen Zhili expressed her congratulations on the achievements the foundation had made and gave a brief account of the conditions and relevant laws and regulations on the protection of women and children in China since reform and opening up. In order to promote China-Niger friendship and support Mrs. Tandja’s Foundation， Chen said that the Chinese side would donate a few medical vehicles to the Nigerien side to help the MAGAMA Foundation carry out its work. Mrs. Tandja expressed her gratitude to China for the aid and said the MAGAMA Foundation dedicates itself to the cause of women and children， to the fight against AIDS and the reduction of poor population in Africa. She said that Niger would learn from China’s experience and work for attaining the UN Millennium Development Goals.

Mrs. Tandja visited China at the invitation of the CPAFFC and Huawei Technologies Co.， Ltd. Huawei is now promoting e-administration in African countries. Two-thirds of its staffers in Africa being locals， it is most welcomed by the African people. Last year the company donated 20，000 US dollars to the MAGAMA Foundation， which was earmarked to provide free lunches for the poor school-children. During her visit in China Mrs. Tandja paid a special visit to the headquarters of Huawei Technologies Co.， Ltd. in Shenzhen. She paid great attention to the training of employees and suggested that her foundation cooperate with Huawei to train Nigerien employees to raise their skills. Huawei Technologies expressed its willingness to strengthen ties with the foundation.

Mrs. Tandja has deep feelings for China. Several years ago she sent her second son to study in China who since graduation has worked for economic cooperation between Niger and China. Her eldest daughter who accompanied her on her visit to China will also start business on environmental protection in China. We sincerely wish that friendship between China and Niger will pass on from generation to generation.