Li Ruihuan's Three-Nation Tour Successful, Says Official

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, November 23, 2001

Li Ruihuan's Three-Nation Tour Successful, Says Official

The three-nation Asia- Pacific tour by Li Ruihuan, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), is a complete success, CPPCC Secretary-General Zheng Wantong said Friday.

Li's visit, which ended earlier Friday, further enhanced China' s friendly relations with Fiji, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Singapore, increased mutual understanding and cooperation and expanded consensus, Zheng said in an interview with reporters accompanying Li on the visit.

Li, head of China's top advisory body, paid official goodwill visits to the three nations between November 10 and 23, and was warmly received by the countries and their people.

During the visit, Li visited many economic, cultural and educational facilities in the three countries, exchanged views with their leaders on bilateral ties and issues of mutual concern, and explored ways of strengthening trade, technological and cultural exchanges, according to Zheng.

Li reiterated China's anti-terrorism stance and demonstrated its commitment for world peace during his visit, said Zheng, quoting Li as saying that peace is a precondition for development and that all peace-loving people and countries should join hands to fight all kinds of peace-breaching activities.

Narrowing the economic gap between industrialized countries and developing ones is one of the fundamental steps to maintain world peace and stability, Li said. Li briefed leaders of the three countries on China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO). The accession is a good thing and opportunity. It is also a challenge and test, Li said.

China has enjoyed more than 20 years of rapid economic growth since it adopted the reform and opening-up policy, but the general level of development is not high and many sectors lag behind their international counterparts, he said. Li said that lots of unquestionable facts have proved again and again that China's development will only benefit its neighboring countries and the world community as a whole. China needs a lot more time to develop itself and learn advanced experience from developed countries and take a more extensive and effective part in the international cooperation.

Zheng said that Li also discussed with the leaders such issues as global civilization and development. Li said that civilizations of various countries differ from each other, which is the very reason why nations in the world should intensify exchange of views and reinforce their cooperation. Li explained, from a historical and realistic viewpoint, China' s stand on the Taiwan issue in his meetings with the leaders of the three nations, in which leaders of Fiji and PNG expressed their understanding of the importance of the Taiwan issue, and restated their pledge to the one-China policy.

Li also briefed the leaders on China's system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, as well as the work of the CPPCC. Leaders of the three countries expressed their willingness to know more about the CPPCC and to intensify their contacts with the advisory body.

Li Ruihuan Concludes Three-Nation Asia-Pacific Tour