The two sides exchanged views extensively on the relations between China and the Rio Group and international issues of common concern.

Tang spoke positively of the important role of the Rio Group in maintaining peace and stability in the Latin American region, promoting the internal friendly cooperation among Latin American countries, and in handling international affairs.

He said China has always highly valued the important role of the Rio Group, and considered the Group as an important political force among developing countries and a reliable partner in international affairs.

In the past 10 years, China has maintained good cooperation with the Rio Group, Tang said. Since the establishment of political dialogue relations between China and the Rio Group in 1990, nine foreign ministerial-level talks have been conducted. The two sides had a broad and in-depth

exchange of views on China--Latin America relations and international and regional issues.

Tang said China feels that dialogue and cooperation with the Rio Group over the past decade has been positive and the Chinese side is fully satisfied with the result.

The three foreign ministers of the Rio Group expressed that they are glad to have the opportunity to celebrate with China the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the political dialogue between the two sides.

They noted that the political dialogue between the two sides have been fruitful, that mutual understanding has been further deepened and that dialogue and coordination have been widened.

The three foreign ministers noted that developing friendly cooperation with China has become an important consensus among themembers of the Rio Group.

On international issues, Tang said the world is developing toward multi-polarization, which is conducive to establishing a just and reasonable international political order. All these factors are helpful in developing and promoting world peace and stability.

It is also in line with the common aspiration of the majority of the international community, Tang said.

Tang said the developing countries are paying more and more attention to unite themselves and safeguard their own rights and interests, adding that developing countries are the major force in pushing forward multi-polarization.

China and countries in Latin America share a wide consensus on the issue of promoting multi-polarization, Tang said.

The three foreign ministers agreed with Tang on this point. They noted that the two sides' joint efforts on this matter is helpful to the balance, peace, and development in the world.

Tang said the economic globalization will have a different impact on countries at different stages of their development. He added that because of the irrationality of the current international economic order and different economic strength and development stages, the "dividend" of globalization has not been divided evenly between developing and developed countries.

Tang said a global economy needs the cooperation from the international community, adding that all nations of the world, especially developing countries, should have equal rights to

participate in international economic issues. The three foreign ministers pointed out that the economic globalization brings both opportunities and challenges to

developing countries.

They told Tang that the Rio Group is willing to work with China to meet the challenges, to eliminate poverty, and make international economic issues more democratic and open.

On the human rights issue, Tang stressed that China and many countries in Latin America share common views and have kept good cooperation.

(Xinhua)