Jiang Meets FMs of Rio Group

President Jiang Meets Foreign Ministers of Rio Group

China highly stresses its relations with Latin American countries, and is willing to develop closer ties in a spirit of mutual respect and friendly cooperation, said President Jiang Zemin Monday in Beidaihe.

Jiang's remarks came during a meeting with foreign ministers of Colombia, Mexico and Chile of the Rio Group Troika in this summer resort.

The Rio Group, as the most important political consultation and coordination organization in Latin America, is one of the key political forces among developing countries, Jiang said, speaking highly of the group's efforts in promoting peace, stability, unity and economic development in the region, and cooperating in political multi-polarity in world affairs as well.

The three foreign ministers -- Guillermo Fernandez De Soto of Colombia, Rosario Green Macias of Mexico, and Maria Soledad Alvear Valenzuela of Chile, arrived in Beijing Sunday for a visit at the invitation of their Chinese counterpart Tang Jiaxuan.

China highly appreciates the Rio Group's positive role in both regional and international affairs, President Jiang said, adding China and Latin American countries share broad common interests in promoting world multi-polarity and a new world order, and should strive for a peaceful and prosperous world in the 21st century.

Jiang said the foreign ministers' visit coincides with the 10th anniversary of the establishment of political relations between China and the Rio Group.

Good communication has greatly promoted the overall development of Sino-Latin American relations, said Jiang, referring to the deepening of mutual understanding and trust, expansion in economic and trade cooperation, and cooperation and mutual support in multilateral fields in recent years.

The three foreign ministers said that their China trip is aimed at celebrating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of such a dialogue relationship, and furthering relations between Latin American countries and China.

The foreign ministers believe that although they are far apart geographically, Latin American countries and China share similar views on many important world issues. The Rio Group member countries highly value China's active role in international affairs, and are proud of beneficial and constructive dialogues with China in the past decade.

They also expressed the hope that the existing friendship between the Rio Group and China would reach a new stage of development.