Yugoslav President Meets China's Foreign MinisterYugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica told visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan on Saturday, December 2, that it is of strategic importance for his country to develop relations with China.Briefing Tang on the latest developments of the situation in Yugoslavia, Kostunica said that to develop the Yugoslavia-China relationship is of strategic significance for Yugoslavia, as his country is aware that China plays an important role in establishing a fairer, new international order. During the meeting, Tang conveyed Chinese President Jiang Zemin's invitation for Kostunica to visit China and Kostunica accepted it with pleasure. Kostunica said Yugoslavia and China enjoy the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between them and bilateral relations have bright prospects for development. On the Kosovo issue, Tang said China strongly opposed the air campaign against Yugoslavia by the U.S.-led NATO and maintains that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yugoslavia must be fully respected. China also maintains that the U.N. Security Council resolution No. 1244 should be carried out in real earnest and equal rights of ethnic groups in Kosovo be guaranteed effectively, Tang said. He also called for the early and total lifting of the sanctions against Yugoslavia. Kostunica said he approved China's positions on dealing with problems in the Balkans. He also reaffirmed his country's "one China" policy. Later in the day, Tang also held talks with Yugoslav Prime Minister Zoran Zizic and his counterpart Goran Svilanovic. Tang, who arrived here Saturday, will also visit Albania, Hungary and Poland during his current four-nation European tour. |
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