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President Jiang Zemin Meets Chirac, Prodi
Chinese President Jiang Zemin met Monday with French President Jacques Chirac and European Commission President Romano Prodi, who are here for the third summit of China and the European Union (EU).
During the meeting, Jiang said that China and the EU should approach multi-lateral negotiations concerning China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) from a strategic perspective, enabling China to join the global trading system at an early date, which is in the shared interests of both sides.
The EU's attitude is very important to accelerating the negotiations, Jiang said, adding that China hopes to gain support from the EU, President Chirac and President Prodi.
He said that he was pleased with the good talks between President Chirac, President Prodi and Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji earlier today, adding that the EU expressed the willingness to work with China to conclude multi-lateral negotiations concerning China's WTO entry in the coming weeks, in order to push ahead with an early entry.
Chirac said the EU believes that Sino-EU negotiations concerning China's WTO entry are satisfactory, and the two sides should present political wills to solve the remaining issues, adding that the EU will take a positive attitude toward seeking an early settlement of the issue.
Chirac expressed his gratitude for the warm reception extended by the Chinese hosts, and said that the meeting he and President Prodi had with Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji earlier in the day was held in a friendly atmosphere, where they exchanged views on wide-ranging issues and reached broad consensus.
He said that he hopes that such a summit meeting will push forward the development of Sino-EU relations.
Prodi said that the two sides should establish a close relationship in terms of the economy, trade and politics, and they should become even more important and cooperative partners to each other.
Jiang expressed delight at the positive results of the summit meeting, and said that Sino-EU relations have been developing steadily in recent years. He added that frequent contacts between leaders of the two sides have played a role in promoting bilateral relations.
The Chinese President said that he has visited western Europe three times since last year, setting foot on the soil of six EU member countries, adding that he was impressed by the fact that the EU places great importance on developing relations with China.
China attaches great importance to the role and position of the EU, Jiang said, adding that the EU's growth is conducive to pushing ahead with multi-polarity and the establishment of a new international political and economic order.
He said that both China and the EU play important roles in international affairs, noting that leaders of both sides should approach bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, so as to further strengthen cooperation in the new century.
During the meeting, Jiang expounded China's stances on the Taiwan and human rights issues.
The EU side said that the EU will continue to pursue the one-China policy, and does not support Taiwan's independence.
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