Li Peng Holds Talks with Azerbaijan President

Li Peng Holds Talks with Azerbaijan President

Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, Friday held talks with Azerbaijan President Geidar Aliyev to discuss bilateral relations, the international situation and other issues of common concern.

The talks proceeded in a cordial and friendly atmosphere, according to sources who attended the talks.

Aliyev first extended a warm welcome to Li, who is on an official goodwill visit to Azerbaijan.

Aliyev said the Azerbaijan government, National Assembly and people treasure their friendship with China, and the Azerbaijan people always sympathized with the Chinese people even in the times of the former Soviet Union. When China and the former Soviet Union were at odds and China was treated with injustice, the Azerbaijan people still held that truth was on the Chinese side.

Since the independence of Azerbaijan in 1991, friendship between the Azerbaijan and Chinese peoples has grown further, the president said.

He said both Azerbaijan and China treasure independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He said bilateral relations should grow at a higher speed, in a broader scale and at a higher level.

He also asked Li to convey his invitation to Chinese President Jiang Zemin to visit Azerbaijan.

Li Peng conveyed Jiang's cordial regards to Aliyev, saying China sets great store by its friendly relations and cooperation with Azerbaijan.

He said he agreed with Aliyev on accelerating the growth of bilateral relations.

Li said China stands for multi-polarization and goes against uni-polarization.

He said uni-polarization means one or two countries can practice hegemonism and power politics by the dint of their strength, and can put their own interests above that of the overwhelming majority of the countries in the world. Thus the world can in no way enjoy peace and development, he added.

Li said respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries constitutes the major contents of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. China always maintains that ethnic problems of a country are it's internal affairs and should be solved by its own government and people, and no other countries have the right to interfere, he added.

Aliyev said he agreed with what Li said.

He reiterated that Azerbaijan adhered, adheres and will adhere to the "one China" policy.

After their talks, Aliyev and Li met with journalists and answered questions raised by them.