Chinese Vice-President Meets Singaporean PresidentChinese Vice-President Hu Jintao said China will make concerted efforts with Singapore for lasting development of the bilateral goodneighborly friendship.Hu made the remark here Friday in a meeting with Singaporean President S.R. Nathan, who is here on a state visit to China. Hu said that in the past 10 years of bilateral diplomatic ties, there have been close contacts between leaders and other various levels of the two countries, and bilateral economic and trade cooperation has been expanding. Both sides have conducted extensive exchanges and cooperation in personnel training, science, technology, culture and education, noted Hu. The two countries have also maintained good coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, satisfying the Chinese side, stated Hu. Pointing to the complementarity between the two sides, he pointed out that it is the consistent policy of the Chinese government to strengthen bilateral cooperation so as to realize a common development. The Chinese side will make concerted efforts with Singapore to actively implement all tasks put forward in the bilateral joint statement and further bilateral cooperation of mutual benefit. Stating that China has always been an important force in safeguarding peace and stability in Asia, Hu pointed out that China's reform, opening-up and modernization drive requires a peaceful and stable neighboring and international environment. China firmly abides by an Asian policy focusing on good neighborliness, friendship and cooperation, he stressed, adding that China will continue to develop friendly relations with its neighbors on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co- existence. Meanwhile, said Hu, China will continue to push forward the development of its goodneighborly partnership of mutual trust with the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, and cooperation with all parties in agriculture, human resources development, information, telecommunications and exploration of the Mekong River. China will also support and cooperate closely with the ASEAN countries in international and regional affairs in a bid to make positive contributions to safeguarding regional peace and stability and promoting a common development, emphasized Hu. Nathan said that since the two countries forged diplomatic ties, bilateral relations, under joint efforts from both sides, have had a sound development, laying a good foundation. It is imperative for the two countries to further their cooperation in all fields so as to cope with new changes in international situations, said Nathan. The Singaporean side hopes that the younger generations and young leaders of the two countries will strengthen their friendly relations and make concerted efforts for the future friendship of the two sides, noted Nathan. He said that Singapore will further strengthen bilateral reciprocal cooperation in all fields of common interest, especially in the development of human resources and the new- and high-tech fields, adding that Singapore is full of confidence about the future of bilateral relations. Nathan also pointed to the fact that China, one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, shoulders major responsibilities for safeguarding world peace and stability. China's rapid development in the past years has benefited the region and the world, and the stability and prosperity in Asia cannot be achieved without China's participation, noted he. He wished success for the upcoming APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) Economic Leaders' Meeting scheduled for October in Shanghai, believing that China will play a bigger role in regional and world economic development. Hu and Nathan also exchanged views on issues of common concern. |
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