Chinese President Meets Turkish Parliament Speaker

Chinese President Jiang Zemin met Speaker Yildirim Akbulut and representatives of parties of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (parliament) Wednesday afternoon. Jiang said that he felt very glad to once again meet Akbulut, who paid a visit to China in March, and conveyed best regards to him from Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National Congress Li Peng.

The Chinese president said that the speaker's successful visit to China, during which both sides friendly and sincerely exchanged views on Sino-Turkish relations, has increased mutual understanding and promoted development of friendship between the two countries. Jiang said that during his state visit to Turkey, he saw the significant achievements which the Turkish people have made in national development.

Jiang said that during the visit, he informed the Turkish side of the current situation in China, stressing that the world is rich and colorful and multiple development models should be allowed. Tolerating only one development model is a foolish thinking, said Jiang, adding that only when various development models are allowed to thrive can the 21st century become a century of peace, stability, growth and prosperity.

Akbulut said that through President Jiang's visit to Turkey, friendly and cooperative relations between Turkey and China will march forward by a big step.

He said that during his visit to China, he was impressed deeply by the compelling achievements that China has made since it adopted the policy of reforms and opening up to the outside world. The speaker expressed confidence that the increased contact between Turkish and Chinese parliaments will be helpful in further development of the ties between the two countries.

President Jiang arrived at Ankara on Tuesday to pay a state visit to Turkey. He has already visited Israel and Palestine and met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Egypt's Mediterranean port city of Alexandria.



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