China and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will continue their close cooperation in various fields and in international affairs, jointly safeguard the rights and interests of developing countries, and continuously push bilateral friendship and cooperation to higher levels.
Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji made the remarks in Beijing on Thursday morning at a meeting with Leonard She Okitundu, minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation of the DRC, who is in Beijing as a guest of Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan.
Zhu said the people of both countries have enjoyed a traditional deep friendship, and in the past few years, the two countries have, on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, continuously promoted the development of bilateral friendship and cooperation, and have had fruitful cooperation in such fields as politics, economics, trade, culture and education.
The Chinese government and people appreciate the DRC government 's "one China" position and its support for China's reunification, added Zhu.
He pointed out that both China and the DRC are developing nations, and to further bilateral friendship and cooperation is in the interests of both parties.
Zhu also appreciates the DRC government's efforts in promoting the country's peace process and national reconciliation, and revitalizing the national economy.
Zhu asked Okitundu to convey Chinese President Jiang Zemin's and his regards to the DRC President Josef Kabila.
Okitundu said that the DRC government attaches great importance to its relations with China, and DRC-China relations have made new progress since President Josef Kabila took office.
Kabila and the DRC government appreciate China's support and assistance, said Okitundu, noting that China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has always supported the DRC government's and its people's struggle for safeguarding territorial integrity and sovereignty.
He said that the DRC will strengthen cooperation with China in international affairs, and support China's stance on human rights issues.
He repeated that the DRC government will resolutely follow the "one China" policy, hoping for an early reunification of China.
He said that the DRC government will work to enhance the existing bilateral friendship and cooperation so as to benefit both parties.
Okitundu asked Zhu to convey Kabila's greetings to Jiang.
(Xinhua News Agency December 6, 2001)
