China will strengthen cooperation with Romania in the field of international affairs, President Hu Jintao said during a meeting with visiting Romanian President Ion Iliescu in Beijing yesterday.

Hu praised the Sino-Romanian relationship, saying it has developed smoothly and withstood the test of international changes and domestic fluctuations in each country over the past half-century.

Hu said that exchanges and co-operations between the two countries in various fields have been very fruitful, adding that people-to-people exchanges also remain active.

Echoing Hu's remarks on bilateral relations, Iliescu said Romania will explore new ways to strengthen ties in various areas, including politics, trade, education, economy and technology.

The Romanian side firmly supports China's principled position on Taiwan, Iliescu added.

Following their meeting the two leaders signed the Sino-Romanian joint declaration and some other co-operative agreements.

During Iliescu's stay in Beijing he will meet with other senior Chinese leaders, including Premier Wen Jiabao and top legislator Wu Bangguo.

(China Daily August 21, 2003)