Chinese and Venezuelan presidents exchanged congratulatory messages Monday to mark the 30th anniversary of full diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Over the past 30 years, the two countries have made great progress in bilateral relations, Chinese President Hu Jintao said in a letter to his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez.

With frequent exchanges of high-level visits, deepened mutual political trust and broadened economic and trade relations, the two countries have been supporting and cooperating with each other in international affairs, Hu said.

Hu noted that bilateral relations between China and Venezuela have maintained strong momentum of development over the years.

Both China and Venezuela are developing countries that are faced with the task of developing their national economies and improving their people's living standards, Hu said.

He believed that further strengthening friendly cooperation in various fields not only serves the fundamental interests of both peoples but also is their shared aspiration.

Hu promised that the Chinese people will work together with the Venezuelan people in pushing forward the two countries' friendly relations and cooperation in the new century.

Chavez, who extended his "brotherly" greetings to the "great Chinese people" in his letter to Hu, expressed admiration for the efforts by Chinese people in exploring their own ways of development.

Both countries are longing for a friendly and peaceful world in which all peoples uphold their dignity, said Chavez, voicing his hope that relations between Venezuela and China will be further consolidated.

Also on Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jesus Arnaldo Perez exchanged congratulatory messages.

(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2004)