Jiang Zemin Meets Indian Defense Minister

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, April 27, 2003

Jiang Zemin Meets Indian Defense Minister

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Jiang Zemin Meets Indian Defense Minister

Jiang Zemin, chairman of the Central Military Commission of China, said here Saturday that China and India should enhance exchanges and cooperation to upgrade bilateral ties, including military ones, to a new level.

During his meeting with visiting Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes, Jiang said the peoples of China and India enjoy long-term friendship and exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in all fields have showed good momentum in recent years.

Jiang recalled his friendly visit to India in 1996. During that visit the leaders of the two countries decided to develop a 21st century-oriented constructive and cooperative relationship, thus guiding the growth of bilateral ties in the new century.

As China and India are the two largest developing nations and also neighbors, to develop bilateral relations is in the fundamental interest of the two countries, Jiang said.

The chairman said China is willing to live in harmony with India on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, with both countries respecting and trusting each other.

South Asia is an important part of Asia and without its stability and development, there will be no peace and prosperity for the whole of Asia, Jiang said.

China is willing to maintain and develop good-neighborly and friendly relations with all South Asian countries, Jiang said, adding that China hopes the South Asian nations can live in harmony and realize long-term peace, stability and development.

Jiang said China supports all efforts that contribute to the peace and stability of the region.

Jiang briefed the Indian guest on China's fight against the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic. He said SARS has been found in some areas of China and the disease poses serious threat to the health and lives of the people.

He said the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council are highly responsible for the people, and they have taken measures to prevent the spread of the disease and asking local governments to make it a priority.

Chinese medical workers and scientists have made progress in identifying the causative agent of SARS, finding fast and effective testing measures and improving the treatments for betterresults, he said.

Jiang added that the treatment, prevention and control work is going on in an orderly way, and China has scored notable achievements in containing the disease.

He said he believes that as long as the people make concerted efforts, take proper measures and rely on science, they will finally overcome SARS and win the battle.

Fernandes said history and culture link the two countries and India attaches great importance to bilateral relations.

Trade and economic cooperation between the two countries have developed rapidly in recent years and exchanges between their militaries have also progressed smoothly, he said, adding that India regards the economic and military relations as important parts of bilateral ties.

He said he believes Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's upcoming visit to China later this year will enhance bilateral relations.

This is Fernandes' first visit to China. Before going to Shanghai, he had visited Beijing and met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and senior Chinese military officials.

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