Chinese Leader Meeting with South African and Russian LeadersVice Premier Wen Jiabao, head of the Chinese delegation attending the Special Session of the U.N. General Assembly, met with South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma and Russian Deputy Premier Valentina Matvienko Tuesday on bilateral ties and issues of common concern."We appreciate the role the new government of South Africa is playing in maintaining regional peace and stability and promoting local economic growth," Wen told Deputy Presidnt Zuma. He noted that Pretoria Declaration on the Partnership between the two countries signed during Chinese President Jiang Zemin's April visit will play an important role in promoting friendly relations between the two countries. Wen added that both China and South Africa are developing countries that share similar views on many major international affairs and have a wide range of mutual interest. "For the time being, it is more important for our two countries to enhance coordination and support in the international affairs," he said. Reviewing his two visits to China in 1996 and 1998 in retrospect, Zuma said the South African government and people have a deep affection toward China. "We will never forget the firm support and assistance the Chinese government and the people offered to South Africa during the days of its fight against apartheid," he said. "China is an influential country in the world," Zuma said. " South Africa is willing to further develop bilateral relations between our two countries and intensify the two-way cooperation in international affairs." When holding a friendly talk with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Matvienko, Wen said, "Russia is China's largest neighbor and an important country that has great influences on world affairs. "China pays great attention to developing good and cordial relations with Russia," Wen said. In recent years, bilateral relations between the two countries have been developing smoothly. "As permanent members of the U.N. Security Council," Wen said, " both China and Russia should take a special responsibility for maintaining world peace and security." Deputy Minister Matvienko said, "The strategic partnership between Russia and China initiated in 1996 is beneficial not only to the fundamental interests of the peoples of our two countries, but also to the promotion and development of regional and world peace." When meeting with Chandra Paudel, vice president of Nepal, and Noureddine Boukrouh, special envoy of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria, Wen discussed with them separately on developing bilateral relations and exchanged views on international affairs. |
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