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President Jiang Meets New Zealand PM
President Jiang Meets New Zealand PM
Chinese President Jiang Zemin spoke highly of the development of China-New Zealand relations and the exchanges between the two peoples in the past century.
In a meeting here Friday with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, Jiang said he is delighted to meet Clark again, calling her an old friend.
During the meeting, Jiang pointed to the very good talks between Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and Clark held here Thursday afternoon and said he is looking forward to Clark's attendance at the 9th informal leadership meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) scheduled for October this year in Shanghai.
Recalling his successful state visit to New Zealand in 1999, Jiang noted that bilateral relations have maintained a good development momentum.
Both sides have made concerted efforts to establish bilateral long-term and stable overall cooperative relations with a healthy development geared to the 21st century, said Jiang.
He added that there have been constant exchanges of high-level visits and contacts, and smooth exchanges and cooperation in various fields.
Voicing satisfaction with the good development of bilateral relations, Jiang pointed out that there will be broad prospects for bilateral economic cooperation after China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO).
In the past century and more, said Jiang, Chinese immigrants have contributed to the development of New Zealand, and the merits of Rewi Alley, an excellent son of the New Zealand people, are very popular with the Chinese people.
The friendship forged in the exchanges between the two peoples in the past has laid a good foundation for the development of bilateral relations, noted the president.
He went on to say that China is proud of its brilliant culture and scientific and technological achievements, and the New Zealand people have also made contributions to human civilization, adding that all peoples should learn from each other.
Citing the drastic changes in the 20th century, Jiang said that the world economy, science and technology have made rapid developments after World War II, and the information society has made the world smaller.
Although there are differences between the countries in terms of economies, social systems and values, peace and development remain the common aspirations of the humankind, said Jiang.
Stressing that the world needs to be multi-polarized, Jiang noted that affairs of a country should be dealt with by its people themselves and international affairs should be treated through negotiations by all countries.
Jiang also briefed the visitors on China's reform and opening-up policy and achievements in economic construction.
Clark voiced satisfaction with her fruitful talks with her Chinese counterpart, and said that with China's continuous development, bilateral economic and trade relations will enjoy broader prospects.
She reiterated her government's stance on the "one China" policy and support for China's entry into the WTO.
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