President Jiang Zemin and Burundi President Pierre Buyoya held talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 18. Jiang told Buyoya that in the state-to-state relationship, the two countries have enjoyed mutual respect, treated each other as equals and carried out sincere and fruitful cooperation in political, economic, trade, cultural, health and other fields. "We appreciate the stance adopted by the Burundi government to adhere to 'one China' and support China's reunification efforts," Jiang said.

Internationally, the two countries also share wide common interests, Jiang said.

He praised President Buyoya for his efforts to develop ties with China during his two terms as president.

The Chinese government cherishes the traditional friendship between the two countries and the two peoples, Jiang said. And China is willing to make concerted efforts with Burundi so as to bring a long-term, stable and friendly bilateral ties well into the coming new century, he added.

Buyoya expressed appreciation for the sympathy and assistance given by the Chinese people to his country, adding his government and the Burundi people are grateful for this. He told Jiang his current visit is aimed to enhance the bilateral friendship and cooperation in all fields, he said.

He said that Burundi will continue to stick to its "one China" stand and to support China's reunification efforts. Moreover, Burundi supported China's stance on the issue of human rights and agreed that the understanding of human rights in different countries should be based on the their own sense of values.

On economic and trade cooperation, Jiang described the existing bilateral cooperation as "fruitful." The projects built by China in Burundi have played a positive role in the country's socio- economic growth and enhanced the people-to-people friendship, he said.

He said that in carrying out bilateral cooperation, China emphasizes equality, mutual benefit, efficiency and for the good of common development.

China never uses any means to interfere in the internal affairs of Burundi, Jiang said, adding that the economic cooperation would be even more promising after the situation in Burundi turned better. Buyoya also hoped to enhance economic cooperation with China by various means.

Buyoya briefed Jiang on the domestic situation of Burundi.

China has been following the development of the Burundi situation, Jiang said. Since Buyoya assumed the presidency, Jiang said, Burundi promptly regained domestic political stability by advancing national reconciliation meant to create conditions for economic recovery and development.

Internationally, Jiang said, Burundi has carried out a good- neighborly policy and actively improved the relationship with surrounding countries. "We appreciated such efforts," Jiang said.

China sincerely hopes that the different political factions in Burundi will put the interests of the people and the future of the nation first, and let go of ethnic and tribal hatred so as to realize national reconciliation through dialogue and consultation, Jiang said.

As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Jiang said, China is willing to push the international community to support the peace process in Burundi and to seek the eventual solution to the Burundi issue.

Buyoya congratulated Jiang on China's tremendous achievements in political, economic and social areas, saying that such progress can be encouraging for African countries.

The Burundi government supports the role China plays in the international arena, he said, adding that Burundi is on the same side of China.

After the talks, Jiang and Buyoya attended a signing ceremony for an inter-government accord for economic and technological cooperation between the two countries.