Chinese President Hu Jintao met in Beijing Thursday with Mari Alkatiri, prime minister of East Timor.

Hu said that China and East Timor have enjoyed long-term friendship, and the two countries forged diplomatic ties soon after East Timor became independent one year ago.

Based on mutual respect and equality, the cooperation between the two countries has expanded and the trust has furthered over the past year, he said.

Hu expressed appreciation for the support of East Timor to China on the Taiwan and other issues, and said that China will, as always, support the efforts made by East Timor and the international community to stabilize and develop this new country.

"We have always held that all nations, big or small, rich or poor, strong or weak, are equal members of the international community," Hu said.

He added that China is ready to further the good-neighborly relations with East Timor on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence (mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence).

Alkatiri said that he is here to improve the cooperation between East Timor and China in all fields.

He said that East Timor is facing the task of rebuilding its economy, and hopes to develop the relations with China.

He also expressed gratitude for China's economic aid towards East Timor, and said that the East Timor government will continue to adhere to the one-China policy, and support China's stance on the Taiwan issue.

He hoped that China would play a bigger role in the international and regional affairs.
  
(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2003)