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Zhu's Five-Nation Tour Fruitful: Chinese FM
Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan on Tuesday hailed the 12-day, five-nation Asian trip by Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji to Pakistan, Nepal, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Speaking on the achievements of the tour, Tang said Zhu's trip was the first by a Chinese premier to the four South Asian countries and Thailand in the new century, representing a diplomatic move of profound significance at the beginning of the new century.
He said that in talks with the heads of state and government, parliament speakers and main political party leaders of the five countries, Zhu reached consensus on the enhancement of bilateral relations, economic and trade cooperation, and maintenance of regional and world peace.
Zhu also met businessmen and made key speeches on the status quo and future of China's economic and social development, China's peaceful foreign policy of independence, and further development of friendly cooperation with the five countries.
Tang describes Zhu's tour as "a tour of friendship, pragmatism and cooperation," which helped in deepening mutual understanding, enhancing economic and trade cooperation, and consolidating traditional friendship and good neighborliness between China and those countries.
During the just-concluded trip, Zhu reiterated China's willingness to seek closer ties with the five countries. Zhu held in-depth discussions with leaders of the countries on the strengthening of economic and trade cooperation, and explored ways to expand cooperation in other fields.
During the trip, China signed with the four South Asian countries 14 cooperation agreements and memos on economy, technology, agriculture, tourism, telecommunications, energy and finance.
Zhu summed up the experiences in developing ties between China and these countries into four principles, namely mutual respect, mutual understanding, mutual trust and mutual support.
By mutual respect, Zhu said he meant the persistent pursuit of the five principles of peaceful coexistence, particularly the principle of mutual respect for each other's sovereignty and noninterference in each other's internal affairs.
Mutual understanding would be realized as each side gives priority to maintaining and developing bilateral friendship while handling issues in bilateral relations, the Chinese premier said. By mutual trust, the premier said he meant that each side works consistently to develop bilateral relations despite changes in the world situation.
Tang said solidarity and cooperation among Asian countries can help promote the cause of peace and development in the region as well as the entire world and Zhu's visit demonstrates China's wish to work with its neighbors and other Asian countries to face the challenges while seizing the opportunities the new age presents.
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