Jiang Greets New Philippine PresidentChinese President Jiang Zemin on Monday greeted his Philippine counterpart, Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo, on the occasion of the latter's assumption of presidency.In a message of congratulation to Arroyo, Jiang, on behalf of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese people, and in his own name, sent his "heartfelt congratulations and best wishes" to the new Philippine president. Jiang said that since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1975, the two sides have scored great progress in exchanges and cooperation in the fields of politics, economy and trade, and culture. He added that the joint statement on the framework of cooperation signed between the two countries at the turn of the century defined the orientation and aims of the development of relations between the two countries in the 21st century. "I am willing to work, in close cooperation with your excellency, to further enhance the good-neighborly mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the Philippines, and to consolidate and develop the traditional friendship between the two peoples," he said. Macapagal-Arroyo was sworn in as the 14th president of the Philippines on Saturday noon after former president Joseph Estrada was forced to step down from office. |
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