A senior official of the Chinese Communist Party, Wu Guanzheng, arrived in the Colombian capital on Monday, kicking off a two-day goodwill visit.

 

In a written statement released upon his arrival at the airport, Wu said that China and Colombia as well as their two peoples have enjoyed a long-standing friendship although they are separated by a vast ocean.

 

Wu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said bilateral relations between China and Colombia have recorded steady development since they established diplomatic relations in 1980.

 

With frequent exchanges of high-level visits, the mutual political trust between the two countries has been strengthened and bilateral cooperation of mutual benefit further expanded, said Wu, who flew to Bogota after winding up his four-day visit to Cuba.

 

China and Colombia are both developing countries and both are facing the common task of developing their national economies, raising the living standards of their peoples, safeguarding world peace and pushing for the progress of mankind, Wu said.

 

Deepening the Sino-Colombian friendship and cooperation of mutual benefit conforms to the fundamental interests of the two peoples, he said, adding that China regards Colombia as a good friend and partner in Latin America.

 

Wu said his visit aims to increase exchanges, enhance friendship, expand consensus and promote cooperation.

 

During his stay, Wu is expected to hold wide-ranging discussions with Colombian leaders on a variety of international issues of common concern.

 

After his tour of Colombia, Wu will visit Chile.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2007)