Chinese President Jiang Zemin stressed in Riyadh on the morning of November 1 that China supports the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in their efforts to get united and self improved so as to achieve common development.

"China and GCC member countries have enjoyed traditional friendship and good relationship of cooperation," Jiang said while meeting with GCC Secretary General Jameel Alhojailan at the state guesthouse of Saudi Arabia.

In recent years, Jiang said, the relationship of friendly cooperation between China and GCC member countries developed constantly. As a regional organization, the GCC has played a positive role in promoting the ties between China and every country of the GCC.

The Chinese president said China attaches great importance to the development of its relationship with the GCC, and is willing to continue to seek more exchanges between the two sides, and wider-ranging and higher-level cooperation.

Jiang said that China, the biggest developing country and also one of the most economically vigorous countries in the world, has rich human resources and great potential of market, while GCC countries are rich in resources of energy and fund, and the consumption capability of their residents is also remarkable.

As the economy of the two sides are strongly complementary to each other, it provides great opportunities for furthering their economic and trade cooperation, Jiang said.

Jiang expressed the confidence that through joint efforts of the two sides, the relationship of friendly cooperation between China and GCC member countries will certainly be further promoted.

Jiang noted that it is indispensable to have a peaceful and stable international environment for economic development and cooperation.

Peace, stability and development of the Gulf region are the common wishes of the peoples of all countries in the region and they are also in the fundamental interests of the regional countries, and are beneficial to world peace, said Jiang.

To achieve this goal requires the joint efforts of all countries in the Gulf region, Jiang said, adding that the GCC has scored great achievements in strengthening solidarity and promoting regional economic cooperation.

"The GCC has also played a more and more important role in safeguarding the peace and stability in the Gulf region, pushing forward the Middle East peace process and dealing with other regional and international issues," Jiang said.

China, as a member of UN Security Council, is willing to maintain consultation and coordination with the GCC on regional and international affairs, and continue making unremitting efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region.

Jiang also expressed gratitude to Alhojailan and the GCC Secretariat for their unremitting efforts in enhancing the relationship between China and GCC member countries.

The GCC and China established regular political and economic consultation mechanism in 1996, Jiang said, adding that in recent years, the GCC, as an entirety, has shown great interest in developing its economic and trade cooperation with China and hopes to seek more ways and channels for cooperation through this mechanism.

Jiang said China is delighted at what the GCC has done and hopes in the heart to further strengthen this mechanism, especially in promoting economic and trade cooperation between the two sides.

Jiang invited Alhojailan to visit China as early as possible.

The secretary general said the volume of trade between the two sides is about 5 billion US dollars now, which indicates trade between the two sides will have bright future.

Alhojail also expressed appreciation and respect for China's foreign policy, especially the one on the Middle East.