The Chinese government has always attached great significance to the China-Lebanon traditional friendship, and is ready to develop all-round friendly and cooperative ties keeping to the five principles of peaceful co-existence.
Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji made the remarks in Beijing Sunday while holding talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
On bilateral ties and regional and international issues
They exchanged views on bilateral ties and regional and international issues of common concern, and reached broad consensus.
Zhu said he appreciates the efforts Hariri has made in promoting China-Lebanon relations, and he believes that his visit will inject new vitality into bilateral friendly cooperation.
He values highly their bilateral relationship, saying Hariri's last China tour ushered in a new phase which brought an increase in high level exchange visits, an expansion in the fields of cooperation, and progress in bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
Zhu added that China is satisfied with the current development of bilateral ties.
Zhu pointed out China and Lebanon have no conflict of interests and added that they hold similar or identical views on many significant international and regional issues.
He expressed appreciation for Lebanon's long-term stance of sticking to the one-China principle and not developing official ties with Taiwan, noting that the Chinese side also firmly supports Lebanon's just struggle towards safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Mutual sympathy and support will add to the sustained development of bilateral ties, Zhu stressed, adding that China will join with the Lebanese side in further promoting their friendly cooperation.
Hariri completely agreed with Zhu on his evaluation of bilateral relations.
He said over recent years Lebanon-China ties have rapidly developed and the exchange of high-level visits and strengthened cooperation on both sides, in all spheres, have pushed their relations forward.
The two parties also exchanged views on trade and economic relations and the Middle East issue.
Two documents signed
After the talks, Zhu and Hariri attended a ceremony for signing two documents presented by relevant departments from the two nations, one concerning the first meeting of the mixed committee of the two governments' economic, technological, and trade cooperation, and the other on the implementation of a plan for a cultural pact between the two governments.
Before the talks, Zhu held a welcoming ceremony for Hariri.
Senior officials from both sides, including Chinese foreign and cultural ministers, and Lebanese tourism, trade and cultural ministers, were present at the talks.
(People's Daily April 29, 2002)
