China, Mercosur Vow to Strengthen Trade RelationsOfficials of China and the South American Common Market (Mercosur) agreed Wednesday in Beijing to strengthen their cooperation on international affairs and trade.Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi, Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Zhou Keren and a Mercosur delegation led by Jose Lima, Brazilian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, reached the consensus during a working dialog, the third of its kind between China and Mercosur, Wednesday. Chinese Vice-Premier Wen Jiabao also met the delegation on Wednesday. The two sides exchanged views on the major issues of the world after reviewing the development of their bilateral political and economic relations since the last dialog conference in October, 1998. The two sides agreed that they will continue to cooperate on international affairs and in particular, on trade and the economy. They will work together to build a new just and fair international economic order. In addition, they agreed to promote cooperation in trade, science and technology, electronics and information sectors to a higher level, and to encourage a mutual increase in investment. Founded in 1991 by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, the Mercosur is the largest economic group in Latin America. |
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