Jordanian King Abdullah Bin Hussein on Monday met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan over further promoting bilateral ties and the latest development in the Middle East.
During the meeting, Tang said China and Jordan had conducted effective and fruitful cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields and had been supporting and coordinating with each other on international issues since they established diplomatic ties over two decades ago.
Tang said he believed the Sino-Jordanian friendly and cooperative ties would further develop in the new century under the personal care and guidance of leaders from both countries as King Abdullah will China in early 2002 at the invitation of Chinese President Jiang Zemin, according to Sun Yuxi, spokesman for Tang's delegation.
For his part, King Abdullah said the exchange of visits by leaders of the two countries will steadily boost the development of the bilateral friendly and cooperative ties, particularly in trade and economic fields for the benefits of the two peoples.
The Jordanian side also reiterated that the kingdom attached great importance to developing ties with China, and would adhere to the "one China" policy and will refrain from developing official ties with Taiwan, according to Sun.
The meeting was also attended by Jordanian Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb and Foreign Minister Abdel Ilah al-Khatib.
Tang and his hosts also reached a common consensus on the Mideast situation and the Iraqi issue, Sun said.
Tang said China appreciated Jordan's efforts to promote the Mideast peace process and understood its special concern over its neighbor Iraq.
He said China believed Iraq should comply with relevant U.N. resolutions and resume its cooperation with the U.N., meanwhile, Iraq's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence should be respected.
The Chinese foreign minister also stressed the U.N. should review objectively Iraq's implementation of relevant resolutions and accordingly lift its sanctions imposed on the country 11 years ago for its invasion of Kuwait to end the sufferings of the Iraqi people.
King Abdullah and other Jordanian leaders fully agree with China's position on the Mideast peace process and the Iraqi issue, and expressed hope that China would play a bigger role in the region, Sun Yuxi said.
Both China and Jordan stand for a just, durable and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
Tang arrived here earlier in the day for a two-day official visit as part of his week-long four-nation tour, which has taken him to Lebanon and Syria. He will travel on to Egypt on Tuesday.
(People's Daily December 25, 2001)
