Wearing a doctoral suit and hat, visiting Argentine President Fernando de la Rua this morning spent time out of his busy schedule talking to Chinese law students.

President Fernando de la Rua went to the People's University of China, a prestigious higher learning institution in China, to receive his Chinese doctorate certificate, where he discussed the characteristics of both oriental and western law philosophies.

"Among the university faculties here, I just had a feeling like 'yesterday once more', and I am so honored to be an honorary doctor of this university of the entire Chinese people or Renda (in Chinese)," said the president, who is an Argentine law doctor, and had previously served as a law professor in the universities of Cordoba and Buenos Aires.

At the ceremony, Renda President Li Wenhai said that he hopes that the education and law circles of the two countries will promote mutual understanding and cooperation.

Fernando de la Rua cited as "precious treasury" the long-standing Chinese civilization and the Chinese people's extraordinary ability to adjust to new circumstances, and praised China's efforts to push forward the rule of law.

"I wish more cooperation between our two countries in judicial sector in the future," he said.

(people’s Daily 09/14/2000)