NPC Chairman Hails Sino-Bolivian Relations

Li Peng Meets with Bolivian Guest

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China's top legislator, Li Peng, said the National People's Congress (NPC) is ready to become involved in further exchanges and cooperation with Bolivia and promote contacts through various channels and in different forms, so as to enhance understanding, expand common views and strengthen cooperation.

Li, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, made the remark Tuesday afternoon in a meeting with a delegation from the National Congress of Bolivia led by President of the Chamber of Deputies of Bolivia Jaalil R. Melgar Mustafa.

Extending a warm welcome to the Bolivian visitors who made the long trip to China, Li said that China and Bolivia, since they forged diplomatic ties, have continuously strengthened exchanges and cooperation in politics, economy, trade, science, technology, culture and education, and bilateral relationship has witnessed a big step forward.

China and Bolivia, two countries far away from each other with different social systems and cultural traditions, belong to the third world and share identical or similar positions and views on many issues, said Li.

They have also supported each other and kept cooperative ties in international affairs, said Li, voicing his appreciation for Bolivian government's "one China" stand.

Li point out that China follows an independent foreign policy of peace and attaches importance to the development of relations with Latin American countries including Bolivia.

Noting that Latin America plays an increasingly important role in the evolution of multi-polarization, Li stressed that China is willing to, on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-Existence, strengthen the reciprocal cooperation in various aspects with Latin American countries and explore new ways to work together in order to further promote the development of Sino-Latin American relations.

Li said the NPC has had frequent contacts with parliaments of Latin American countries, which have played a positive role in pushing forward state-to-state relations since parliamentary exchanges are an important component of such relations.

The delegation's current visit to China has enabled both sides to exchange opinions on issues of common concern and is bound to further the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, said Li.

He also briefed the visitors on China's development, future plans and people's congress system.

Melgar pointed to the big delegation of a number of Bolivian parliamentarians from both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, saying this shows that Bolivia pays much attention to the development of relations with China.

He said that although the delegation just arrived in Beijing, they have witnessed and admired China's great progress.

Melgar stressed that the Bolivian government and National Congress strictly adheres to the one-China stand which will not change.

The Bolivian parliament will, as always, make new contributions to the development of bilateral ties, he said.

Melgar stated that the China friendship group in the Bolivian parliament is the biggest one of its kind set up last year, and it will become a pillar for the development of bilateral relations.