British Prime Minister Tony Blair met with visiting Chinese
Vice-President Hu Jintao at No. 10 Downing Street on Monday and
they conducted a wide and in-depth exchange of views on bilateral
ties and international issues of mutual concern.
Blair expressed his warm welcome to the Chinese vice-president' s
visit to Britain. He said that in recent years the relationship
between Britain and China has gathered a good momentum of growth
with closer cooperation in various fields.
He
said under current international situation, Hu's visit to Britain
is of vital importance. China's clear-cut stance on the September
11 incident has won widespread praises from the international
community, Blair said, and Britain is willing to strengthen its
cooperation with China in anti-terrorism.
Blair emphasized that the smooth development of UK-China relations
is not only in the interest of the two countries, but serves the
need for safeguarding world peace. He said he is optimistic about
the broad and bright prospects of development of bilateral ties in
the new century.
The Chinese vice-president said that recent years have witnessed
sustained improvement and development of Sino-British ties, noting
that the top leaders of both countries have maintained close
contacts. President Jiang Zemin paid a successful state visit to
Britain in 1999 and Premier Zhu Rongji and Prime Minister Blair
also exchanged visits in 1998. And these visits laid a new
foundation for the long-term and stable development of bilateral
ties, he added.
In
recent years, the two-way trade volume has grown steadily, with 9.9
billion U.S. dollars last year and totaling 7.6 billion dollars in
the first three quarters of this year, the Chinese vice- president
said.
Hu
added that the two countries also conducted frequent exchanges in
such fields as science and education, military and culture, and
maintained an effective mechanism of consultation and coordination
in many major international issues.
The Chinese vice-president, who arrived here on Sunday for an
official visit to Britain, said that the economies of China and
Britain are mutually-supplementary. Britain has strong advantages
in science and technology as well as personnel with managerial and
professional expertise. And China needs such high technology and
expertise in developing its economy, he added.
China's sustained, healthy and rapid economic growth, the deepening
of reform and opening up as well as its entry of the World Trade
Organization have provided enormous opportunities for the British
business people, Hu said, and China welcomes the positive
participation from the British business community in China's
economic development.
Hu
also said that the current international situation is undergoing
complicated and profound changes, which have made it even more
necessary to increase international cooperation. China and Britain,
both permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, shoulder great
responsibilities for safeguarding world peace and promoting
development.
Noting that China and Britain share common interests on many major
issues, the Chinese vice-president said that there is great
potential for the two countries to enhance cooperation. He
expressed his appreciation with the fact that Britain attaches
great importance to developing its relations with China.
Hu
said China values the development of Sino-UK relations and is
willing to make concerted efforts with the British side to promote
bilateral relations to a new high. "This is not only in the
long-term and fundamental interest of the two countries but also
serves the undertakings of world peace and development," he
said.
The two leaders exchanged views on anti-terrorism, reached much
common understanding in this regard and agreed to increase
consultation and cooperation in fighting against terrorism, a grave
menace to world peace and development. They also shared the view
that the international communities should increase cooperation in
their efforts against terrorism of any form and in any place.
In
the meantime, they hold that the fighting against terrorism must
follow the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and other
universally recognized norms governing international relations,
serve the long-term interest of world peace and development, and
avoid casualties of innocent people.
On
the future government in Afghanistan, Hu said it should be a
broadly-based coalition government, which represents the interests
of all ethnic groups and be friendly towards all countries, the
neighboring countries in particular. The role of the U.N. Security
Council must be given full play in the peace process in
Afghanistan, Hu said. Blair endorsed Hu's points of views in this
respect.
(
Xinhua News
Agency October 30, 2001)