Jiang Praises Links with Filipinos

President Jiang Zemin said yesterday that he looks forward to Philippine President Joseph Estrada's coming visit to China this May. He will exchange views with Estrada on bilateral ties and other issues of common concern, Jiang said during his meeting with Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, vice-president of the Republic of the Philippines.

Jiang praised Arroyo's efforts to push forward Sino-Philippine friendship, saying that the Chinese people will never forget Arroyo's contributions to the development of bilateral ties.

Jiang also said that China appreciates the Philippines' adherence to the one-China policy.

As for differences between the two countries, China still advocates solving them by friendly consultations, he added.

As the trend of economic globalization progresses, China and the Philippines should enhance their exchange and co-operation to make the two countries become "good friends, good neighbours, and good partners," Jiang noted.

Arroyo said she is very happy that the bilateral co-operation between the two countries in various fields has been consolidated since the two nations forged diplomatic ties 25 years ago.

She said the Philippines will stick to the one-China policy because it constitutes the political basis of diplomatic ties.

The Philippines hopes that bilateral co-operation will be furthered in the fields of economy and trade, culture, and agriculture, as well as science and technology, she noted.

The Philippines also hopes that differences between the two countries over the South China Sea issue will be solved in a peaceful way, she said.

In another development, Premier Zhu Rongji yesterday called Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo "a witness to the friendly co-operation between China and the Philippines," and asked her to exert her influence to further promote bilateral relations during his talks with the Philippine vice-president.

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