China and Brazil issued a joint communiqué in Beijing Monday, pledging to further strengthen their strategic partnership.

The communiqué is signed by Chinese President Hu Jintao and Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, who is in Beijing for a state visit to China from May 22 to May 27.

The communiqué says the two presidents held fruitful talks on bilateral relations and other international and regional issues of common concern. The two sides also signed several documents on improving bilateral cooperation.

The two sides believe that President Lula's visit to China has achieved very positive results, which will further push forward the development of the bilateral strategic partnership, the communiqué says.

It says the two sides are satisfied with the development of China-Brazil relations in the past 30 years and the important results achieved in bilateral cooperation in various fields.

To further improve the China-Brazil strategic partnership, the two sides agree to develop bilateral relations based on the following four principles:

-- to maintain equal consultation and enhance political mutual-trust;

-- to stick to reciprocity and mutual benefit and expand trade exchanges;

-- to keep consultation and coordination and strengthen international cooperation; and

-- to promote non-governmental exchanges and increase mutual understanding.

Recalling the progress in cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, science and technology, society and culture, the two sides agree to implement the signed cooperation agreements, and continuously expand new areas of cooperation so as to benefit the two peoples.

The two sides decide to set up a China-Brazil committee on high-level coordination and cooperation to instruct bilateral relations, chaired by Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi and Brazilian Vice President Jose Alencar. The operation of the committee will be fixed upon through diplomatic channels.

As for peaceful use of outer space, Brazil congratulated China on its first successful manned space flight. The two sides are satisfied with smooth cooperation on satellite programs. The cooperation in remote sensing application will help expand existing achievements and provide the third party with services related to the satellite programs.

The two sides have kept closer trade relations with trade volume growing on a year-on-year basis. Citing the major progress China has made in economic restructuring, Brazil is committed to working on admitting China's market status in line with constructive spirits.

Both sides reiterate their engagement in long-term and stable trade cooperation and in improving cooperation efficiency.

Both sides are pleased with the signed cooperative documents between the large-sized enterprises during the Brazilian president's visit in China, and congratulate on the establishment of a China-Brazilian businessmen committee.

Brazil reiterates its adherence to the one-China policy, agrees that Taiwan and Tibet are inseparable part of China and opposes any unilateral action aimed at separating Taiwan from China, increasing tension across the Taiwan Straits and leading to "Taiwan independence".

Both sides insist on the democratization of international relations and global multi-polarization, which they regard as fundamental elements in meeting global and regional threat and challenge and addressing disputes peacefully.

The two sides support the United Nations' authority and role in maintaining world peace, security and development, consider it crucial to reform the UN, including the Security Council. They support the necessary and reasonable reform of the Security Council in a view to strengthening the role of the developing countries so as to make the Council more representative and democratic.

China values Brazil's role and influence in the international arena and supports the efforts of Brazil to play a more important role in the UN and other multilateral organizations.

Both sides stand firmly against terrorism of any form, and agree necessary anti-terror steps should be taken to eradicate terrorism. Both sides urge the international community to step up cooperation and emphasize the UN's role in this regard.

The two sides hold development has become increasingly important in a global sense, and the international community should strengthen cooperation to promote economic and social development, and eliminate poverty, prejudice and inequality.

China appreciates President Lula's efforts in eradicating poverty. The two sides agree that the two governments should strengthen exchanges and cooperation in this field and promote poverty reduction globally.

The two sides call for concern over the challenges that economic globalization brought about to the developing countries, and reiterate the importance of consolidating multilateral trade on an equal footing.

They hold that the new round of multilateral trade negotiations will play an important role in promoting development all over the world, developing countries in particular. Therefore, priority should be given to the concerns of the developing countries in the negotiation. On this ground, the two sides stress the core role of agricultural negotiation and the constructive role played by the 20 coordinating nations.

The two sides are willing to continue coordination in the Doha round so as to make the negotiation a real "developing round" by reaching a result in line with the interests of all sides, especially the interests of the developing world.

The two sides reiterate the principles of universality, inseparability and non-selectivity of human rights prescribed in the Vienna action creed and statement. They reiterate that human rights protection should refer to the tenet and principles of the UN Charter.

Neither of the two sides agrees to politicalize the human rights issue or use different standards in the issue. They reiterate their willingness to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the human rights field. China appreciates Brazil's support to China at the Geneva Convention on human rights.

The two sides agree that unity and cooperation among the developing countries in each other's region will be conducive to the stability and development in the regions.

China appreciates and supports the efforts made by Brazil to promote the integration in Latin America, and Brazil speaks highly of China's modernization, regarding it as an important stimulus for the security, stability, development and cooperation in Asia.

The two sides hold that the Sino-Brazilian strategic partnership is an important part of the Sino-Latin American relations and the cross-regional cooperation between Asia and Latin America, and they will continue to promote the development of the relations.

Brazil supports China to continue developing mutually-beneficial cooperation with Latin America and regional organizations, and favors China as an observer of the Organization of American States and a member of the Pan-American Development Bank.

China supports Brazil to participate more in Asia's development and join the Asian Development Bank.

The two sides stress that China and the South American Common Market are complimentary in economic development and enjoy broad prospects for trade and economic cooperation.

They stress that the dialogue mechanism between China and the South American Common Market should be improved continuously, and in-depth consultation should be undertaken on initiating free trade and other issues of common concern.  

(Xinhua News Agency May 25, 2004)