| President Hu Jintao Meets with His Tanzanian Counterpart |
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| 2004-06-02 15:13 |
On the afternoon of June 1, 2004, President Hu Jintao met at the Great Hall of the People with President of the United Republic of Tanzania Benjamin William Mkapa, who is here for the Global Conference on Scaling up Poverty Reduction initiated by the World Bank and on a visit to China. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and other issues of common interest, and reached wide consensus.
Hu Jintao said that China and Tanzania have enjoyed deep and traditional friendship. Since the establishment of the diplomatic ties by the older generation of leadership of the two countries 40 years ago, China-Tanzania relations have been continuously cemented and developed after surviving one after another change in international and domestic situations. In recent years, exchanges of top-level visits have been frequent, economic and trade cooperation has achieved remarkable results, exchanges and cooperation in culture, education and public health have been productive, and the two countries have maintained good cooperation in international affairs. Facts have shown that China and Tanzania are partners of "all weather", being both friends and brothers of each other. China is thankful to Tanzania for its firm support for China on issues related to Taiwan and human rights.
Hu Jintao added that to build on the traditional China-Tanzania friendship and breathe new life and vigor into relations between the two countries in the new century, China proposes to make joint efforts with Tanzania in the following aspects:
First, the two sides should keep their friendship and deepen bilateral political relations by maintaining the exchanges of top-level visits and actively promoting both governmental and non-governmental exchanges at various levels. Second, the two sides should develop mutually beneficial cooperation, constantly expand areas of cooperation and actively explore new means and channels of deepening cooperation so as to boost common development. Third, the two sides should enhance consultation and coordination, and bring closer their mutual support and cooperation in international and regional affairs so as to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries with joint efforts.
Mkapa said that as time passed by, Tanzania-China friendship has become stronger and stronger and has always been full of vigor. The government and people of Tanzania think highly of and are thankful for China's generous assistance to Tanzania in the fields of economy, culture, education and public health. Since Tanzania's economy is now in the transitional period, Tanzania hopes to learn the development experience from China and further expand the mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas. Tanzania will unswervingly adhere to the one-China policy, oppose "Taiwan independence" and support China's efforts for the lofty cause of national reunification.
Hu Jintao said that China has always firmly supported African countries in their efforts to settle regional conflicts and develop their economies through aligning forces of themselves, and that China is willing to work together with African countries, including Tanzania, to boost China-Africa cooperation in a down-to-earth and practical manner within the framework of the China-African Cooperation Forum so as to make new contributions to the rejuvenation and development of Africa.
Mkapa said that Tanzania appreciates China's important role and righteous stance in international affairs. He added that China has made unremitting efforts to promote the realization of peace, stability and development in Africa and is therefore a trustworthy cooperation partner of African countries.
After the meeting, Hu Jintao and Mkapa attended the signing ceremony of the Agreement on Economic and Technological Cooperation between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and three other cooperation documents.
Present at the meeting and the signing ceremony were also State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and some other officials.
(Information from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PRC ) |
Bilateral Visits