Visiting senior official Wu Guanzheng on Tuesday met with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Velez to discuss the promotion of bilateral cooperation.

 

During the meeting at a military base in Cali, about 300 km southwest of Bogota, the two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on how to further increase exchanges and enhance cooperation in trade and economy, tourism, culture and education.

 

Wu, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), recalled a successful visit by President Uribe to China in 2005 when he and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao reached broad consensus on strengthening cooperation of mutual benefit in various fields.

 

Bilateral cooperation has recorded steady progress ever since, Wu said, with ever-increasing mutual political trust and fruitful exchanges in a variety of fields.

 

China has steadfastly regarded Sino-Colombian ties from a long-term and strategic perspective and is willing to maintain frequent exchanges of high-level visits, he said.

 

China will actively push for further cooperation with Colombia in energy resources, machinery, electronics and textiles, Wu said, noting that it will continue to promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, science and technology.

 

Wu, who arrived in Bogota Monday for a two-day good-will visit, expressed his hope that the two countries will continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation in regional and multilateral affairs.

 

Uribe said that the Colombian side admires the brilliant achievements China has made since it adopted the opening up and reform policy, adding that it also appreciates China's great progress in attracting foreign investment and reducing poverty.

 

Developing friendly and cooperative relations with China is an important component of Colombia's foreign policy, he said, noting that Colombia hopes to further strengthen political mutual trust with China and continue to improve coordination in the organizations like Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the United Nations.

 

Uribe also said that the Colombian side hopes President Hu Jintao will pay a visit to the country at an early date.

 

Wu, who is secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, also met with a group of senior Colombian officials in charge of supervision and anti-corruption in Bogota on Tuesday. The two sides had an extensive discussion on how to strengthen judicial cooperation and increase judicial exchanges.

 

After his visit to Colombia, Wu will visit Chile.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 25, 2007)