Jiang's Six-Nation Tour Successful, Says Chinese Official

Chinese President Returns after Five-Nation Trip

Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Ji Peiding said on Friday that Chinese President Jiang Zemin's six-nation tour is successful and of great importance. Jiang returned home Friday after ending his state visit to Israel, Palestine, Turkey, Greece and South Africa, during which he also met with Egyptian President Muhammed Hosni Mubarak in Alexandria.

Jiang paid a state visit to Israel, Palestine, Turkey, Greece and South Africa at the invitation of the leaders of the five nations from April 12 to 27.

It was the first time for a Chinese head of state to visit Israel, Palestine, Greece and South Africa. Ji said that Jiang's six-nation tour marks a significant diplomatic move by China toward West Asia, southern Europe and Africa in the new century.

During his trip, Jiang reiterated China's peaceful and independent foreign policy as well as China's views on the current important international and regional issues.

He also briefed the leaders of the six countries on the policy and strategies of China's socialist modernization and reforms and opening up.

Ji said the visit helped improve understanding, friendship and cooperation between China and the six nations, with a series of accords signed on the cooperation in economy, culture, education, marine transportation and other fields.

He said China formed a new type of cooperative partnership with Turkey by signing a joint communique. It also signed the Pretoria Declaration on the Partnership between China and South Africa, which marked a new stage of the development of the bilateral relations as well as deepened ties between China and the developing nations.

Leaders of the six nations agreed that Jiang's visit provides a new impetus to the development of bilateral ties in a new era. Ji said Jiang's visit is vital to the unity and cooperation between China and the developing countries as the Chinese foreign policy gives priority to strengthening the relations with the developing nations.

Jiang's visit will have positive impact on the Middle East peace process, the deputy foreign minister said.

Meetings with leaders of the three Middle East countries, Jiang reiterated China's principle position on the Middle East question. He called on leaders of the conflicting countries in the Middle East to conduct serious and pragmatic negotiations based on the "land for peace" principle and the relevant United Nations resolutions to solve the Middle East problem fairly and comprehensively so as to safeguard the sovereignty and security of the countries in this region and to achieve the goal of peaceful coexistence among different nationalities.

Leaders of the three Middle East countries spoke highly of the efforts made by President Jiang in promoting the Middle East peace talks. All parties hoped that China can continue to play an important role in settling the Middle East question.

Ji said Jiang's visit has laid a fresh foundation for the development of the relationship between China and Africa in the new century.

This is the third time Jiang visited an African country after his two previous visits to this continent in 1996 and 1999. The visits show that China pays great importance to Sino-African relations, Ji said.

During his visit to South Africa, President Jiang lauded the idea of "African renaissance" advocated by South African President Thabo Mbeki.

He also expressed China's sympathy and support for the strong wishes of people of African countries for rejuvenation and stability.

Jiang put forward China's policy of developing relations with African countries in the new era, stressing that China is willing to, under the banner of South-South cooperation, deepen its cooperation with African countries.

Jiang pointed out that the 2000 Beijing ministerial conference of the Sino-African Cooperative Forum, which is scheduled for October, is a pioneering work in history of China's relationship with Africa and in China's diplomatic history.

Jiang expressed China's hope to discuss with African countries about how to promote Sino-African economic and trade relations to a new high; how to promote the establishment of a fair and just world order in an effort to safeguard the interests of the developing countries, according to Ji.

Jiang has exchanged views on major international and regional issues with leaders of the six countries during his tour, Ji said. Jiang stressed that in the current world, the world peace could not be safeguarded and common development could not be achieved unless the five principles of peaceful co-existence, the principles of the U.N. charter and other universally recognized norms governing international relations are strictly observed.

Jiang said that internal issues of different countries should be settled by governments and peoples of these countries themselves and hegemonism and power politics should be opposed. On ethnic and religious issues, Jiang pointed out that the proper handling of these issues is of great significance to maintaining world peace and stability because many hot issues are related to ethnic and religious issues.

Jiang said that as the world is colorful, the diversities and disparities among different nationalities, religions and civilizations should be respected.

In dealing with their mutual relations, Jiang said, tolerance, communication, dialogue and coexistence should be advocated while discrimination, exclusion, confrontation and conflicts be opposed. Jiang's visit has improved the understanding of China's domestic situation by leaders and peoples of the six countries, Ji pointed out.

Ji said President Jiang took every chance during his tour to brief people on major achievements China has made during the years after it adopted the policy of reform and opening up to the outside world.

Jiang has also briefed them on the blueprint of China's trans-century development and the opening up of the western part of China.

Jiang also reiterated China's stances on issues related to Taiwan and human rights.

Leaders of the six countries spoke highly of China's achievements in sticking to the policies of reform and opening up, maintaining world peace and stability, developing economy and national reunification.

They also lauded China's moves to open up its own way of development according to its own situation.

Jiang's visit has not only promoted the development of the new century-oriented friendly relations between China and the six countries, but also expanded China's international influence, Ji said.

The visit will produce deep impact on the establishment of a new international political and economic order, the promotion of the lofty cause of human peace and development, he added.

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