Chinese Vice-president Meets Vice-president of PhilippinesChinese Vice-president Hu Jintao said Thursday that China is ready to work constantly with the Philippine side to develop a long-term, stable and friendly bilateral relations.Hu made the remarks during a meeting with Teofisto Guingona, vice-president and secretary of foreign affairs of the Philippines, who is here to attend the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The meeting is scheduled to open Friday. Hu congratulated Guingona on his new post as vice-president. He said the frequent contacts and exchange of visits between leaders of the two countries have brought benefits for the people of the two countries. Bilateral trade has been growing vigorously and the cooperation in agriculture has born preliminary results, Hu noted. Hu told Guingona that China appreciates the fact that President Gloria Arroyo and the vice-president himself value the development of relations with China and that the Philippine Government uphold the one-China policy. "As two developing nations in Asia, China and the Philippines share vast common ground and benefits in international and regional affairs," Hu said. "At a time when the process of economic globalization and regional cooperation is moving fast, the expanding and deepening of cooperation will serve the fundamental interests of the two peoples and contribute to regional peace, stability and prosperity." Guingona said he was satisfied with the growth of bilateral relations and the development of economic cooperation and trade in particular. He added that the Philippines is grateful for China's assistance in the agricultural area and hopes that China can increase its number of investment and cooperative projects in the Philippines. The vice-president stressed that the Philippine Government will continue to observe the one-China policy. The Philippine side also appreciates the support of China on ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) plus three (China, Japan and the Republic of Korea) cooperation. Guingona wishes China a success in hosting the informal leadership meeting of the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) later this year. |
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