Chinese President Meets Guinean PMPresident Jiang Zemin said Friday that China highly stresses its cooperation with Africa and considers it an important force representing the developing countries.During a meeting with visiting Guinean Prime Minister Lamine Sidime at Zhongnanhai, the site of China's central government, this afternoon, Jiang said the China-African Forum to be held in Beijing in October demonstrates China's intention to further close such relations. Extending a warm welcome to Sidime, Jiang spoke highly of China's relations with Guinea. Guinea is the first country south of the Sahara to establish diplomatic ties with China, and the friendship between the two countries are fostered by leaders of both countries of the former generation, the president said. During the 41 years since the forging of diplomatic ties, relations have witnessed steady and healthy progress, with fruitful cooperation conducted in the political, economic, cultural, educational and other sectors, Jiang said. He said the two countries have also supported and closely coordinated with each other in world affairs and China highly appreciates Guinea's pursuit of the One-China Policy and its support on issues such as human rights. In recent years, both governments have continued to seek new ways of expanding economic and trade cooperation and achieved positive progress, Jiang said, expressing the belief there are broad prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. The President expressed the hope that under the leadership of President Conte, Guinea would achieve further development. Sidime said both the Guinean government and people harbor special friendly feelings towards China and are grateful for China's assistance in all fields over the past decades. He said the purpose of the current visit is to learn about China's building of its socialist market economy. He also voiced gladness over China's great achievements in its 20-odd-year reform and opening-up. Sidime is paying his first visit to China since assuming his office in 1999 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Zhu Rongji. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/ |