Chinese top lawmaker Li Peng said Thursday in Tunis that China attaches importance to the unique role Tunisia plays in solving regional and international affairs as Tunisia serves as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
Li, Chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, made the remarks during talks with his Tunisian counterpart Fouad Mebazaa.
He noted that China and Tunisia have maintained good coordination and cooperation in international affairs and made joint endeavor in the cause of world peace and development.
Li is now on a friendly official visit to Tunisia.
The two leaders exchanged views and reached consensus on issues of deepening bilateral ties and the two parliamentary organs.
China would like to further enhance coordination and cooperation with Tunisia in all aspects, and promote to a new stage the vigorous and long stable friendly relations between the two countries in the new century, he said.
Both sides make concerted efforts to seek mutual benefits and development together. The two countries have differently domestic conditions and political systems, yet they hold common or similar views on many major international and regional issues, Li said.
The exchange and cooperation between Chinese NPC and Tunisia Assembly is an important component of bilateral relations, and such exchange has been continuously developed over the recent years.
Li Peng invited Mebazaa to visit China in May next year.
Regarding anti-terrorism, Li said China has always been opposed to and condemned terrorism in all forms. Terrorism has posed threat to world peace and security.
China insist that the United Nations and its Security Council play their due roles in fight against terrorism and promote international cooperation.
Anti-terrorism is an arduous task which must integrate strike with prevention, and wipe out the roots for terrorism.
In terms of the situation in Afghanistan, Li pointed out that territory sovereignty must be given consideration in solving the Afghan problem, China proposes to establish a syndicate government with a broad base, which thus can be accepted by all sectors and be in friendly relationship with other countries, especially the neighboring nations, he said.
Mebazaa said that Tunisia and China are far away in distance, and with different domestic conditions, but the two hold the same or similar views on many major international issues, that is the base for further enhancement of cooperation in all fields.
He said he expects bilateral trade and economic cooperation could be further expanded.
Mebazaa congratulated China on its entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) and stressed that Tunisia attached great importance to the event because he believed China understands better the economic situations in developing countries and could carry out candid cooperation with other developing partners.
He also agreed to further enhance exchange between parliaments and expressed his support for China's stance on anti-terrorism.
(People's Daily November 16, 2001)
