Chinese President Jiang Zemin met with Marco Maciel, Vice-President of the Federative Republic of Brazil in Beijing December 16 afternoon.

Jiang extended a warm welcome to Maciel, who will also attend the handover ceremony of Macao following the visit. The president noted that during the 25 years since the initiation of diplomatic relations, especially since 1993 when the two countries established strategic partnership, bilateral cooperation in various fields have witnessed considerable development.

China appreciates Brazil's pursuit of the "one China" policy and is grateful for its support to China's accession to the WTO, he said.

The president also recalled his visit to Brazil in 1993, and said Brazil left a deep impression on him for its rich natural resources, strong national power, and hospitable people.

Maciel also recalled Jiang's visit, and said that since then, bilateral relations, especially cooperation in the area of politics, have been increased.

He stressed the Brazilian government appreciates the "one China, two systems" policy of China, reaffirming Brazil's adherence to the "one China" stance. The vice-president noted his attendance at the handover ceremony of Macao fully shows the position of the Brazilian government on this issue.

Maciel said Brazil and China share similar positions on world affairs, and as the largest developing country in the western and eastern hemispheres, respectively, Brazil and China should further expand cooperation and promote the multi-polarization of the world.

Jiang voiced his appreciation for this. He pointed out the world is a colorful one, and no country can impose its own ideas on the others. The rhetoric that "human rights weighs heavier than sovereignty" is merely a demonstration of power politics, he said.

Maciel arrived in Beijing Wednesday for an official visit at the invitation of Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao.