President Jiang Zemin held talks with his Niger counterpart Mamadou Tandja Tuesday. The two heads of state exchanged views on bilateral relations and international issues of common concern, and reached consensus on a wide range of topics.
While extending a warm welcome to Mamadou Tandja, Jiang said Mamadou Tandja is an old friend of the Chinese people, and expressed the belief that his current visit will deepen his understanding of China.
Jiang also spoke highly of Sino-Niger relations.
The peoples of both nations have a profound friendship, he said, stressing that thanks to concerted efforts by both sides, the bilateral ties have been recovered and seen all-around development, and the cooperation has scored marked achievements in all fields since the two resumed diplomatic relations four years ago.
He pointed out that the two countries have supported each other and cooperated closely in international affairs, especially in the field of human rights.
Both sides share viewpoints on human rights and both view the rights of subsistence and development as the primary human rights, and oppose acts by some Western countries to use the human rights issue as a tool to interfere in the internal affairs of developing countries, Jiang said.
He pointed out that the diplomatic history of the two countries demonstrates that as long as they value and protect their bilateral ties, their friendship will see smooth development.
As the world is moving rapidly towards multi-polarity and economic globalization, to enhance Sino-Niger friendship and cooperation is in the interests of both countries, he noted.
Jiang said that he hoped to join hands with Mamadou Tandja to help build a sincere and friendly cooperative relationship of mutual trust between China and Niger in the new century.
Jiang said that Sino-Niger sound political relations safeguard the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, and with the principles of sincerity, equality and mutual benefit, the two countries have maintained fruitful cooperation in the economic and trade fields.
He noted that as Niger has embarked on its 2001-2004 plan for social and economic development, China currently is implementing its Tenth Five-Year Plan, thus the two countries have more room for economic cooperation.
Jiang said that China will keep helping Niger, strengthen governmental cooperation and encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Niger.
Tandja said that Niger and China have maintained friendly relations, and their cooperation is fruitful. China has always helped Niger when it has met difficulties.
Tandja visited China 17 years ago. Coming to China again, he said he has brought with him gratitude and greetings from the Niger government and people.
He said that Niger-China relations have undergone ups and downs, and Niger is pleased to find that China is still an old friend. He voiced his belief that through joint efforts the bilateral cooperation would be more fruitful.
Tandja expressed his pleasure at seeing China's rapid development in all fields, and the hope that China would complete the cause of its reunification.
He noted that Niger and China have cooperated well in international affairs, and have a similar viewpoint on the human rights issue.
Facing the challenge of economic globalization, he said, Niger is ready to work with China to build a just and rational world.
After the talks, the two heads of state attended a signing ceremony of bilateral cooperation documents. They were an agreement on economic and technological cooperation between China and Niger and a protocol on exempting Niger's debt owed to China.
(Xinhua 06/06/2001)
