Chinese President Ends Visit to Greece

Chinese President Jiang Zemin left on Monday morning for South Africa after winding up his state visit to Greece, the first by a Chinese head of state.

During his visit, Jiang held talks with his Greek counterpart, Costis Stephanopoulos, and met with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis and other Greek political leaders, including main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleko Papariga.

He exchanged views with Greek leaders on the development of bilateral ties and international and regional issues of common interest, and reached broad consensus.

Jiang arrived in Greece Friday morning from Turkey. Greece is the fourth leg of Jiang's five-nation tour of Asia, Europe and Africa, which has already taken him to Israel, Palestine and Turkey. He also flew to Egypt's Mediterranean port city of Alexandria for a meeting with President Hosni Mubarak.

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