The relations between China and Luxembourg will reach a new high with joint efforts from both sides, said Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Thursday during talks with Jean-Claude Juncker, prime minister of Luxembourg.
The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral ties and other issues of common concern, and reached a wide-ranging consensus.
Zhu expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations, saying the China-Luxembourg relations have made great progress since the two nations forged diplomatic ties 30 years ago.
The past years have seen frequent exchanges of visits between the two countries at different levels, and exchanges of high-level visits have increased mutual understanding and trust and boosted trade and economic cooperation, Zhu said.
Exchanges in the fields of culture and education have also been very active, which have enhanced the understanding and friendship of the two peoples, Zhu said, adding that the two nations have also increased their cooperation in international affairs.
Zhu said the two countries enjoy great potential for further cooperation in various fields, expressing hope that they will expand their cooperation with the year marking their 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties as a new starting point.
He extended welcome to enterprises from Luxembourg to take a more active part in China's economic construction and the country's development of its vast western areas, to further promote bilateral ties and benefit the two peoples.
Zhu said the Chinese government attaches great importance to developing relations with Luxembourg, and is ready to further strengthen mutual support in multilateral organs like the United Nations, while enhancing consultation and coordination with Luxembourg on major international issues to safeguard world peace and stability.
On relations between China and the European Union (EU), Zhu said that bilateral trade and economic cooperation has been very fruitful, and the cooperation in science and technology, education, energy and environmental protection have also recorded great progress.
Although there do exist some disagreements between the two in their trade and economic cooperation, Zhu said China is willing to solve these problems through dialogues based on mutual respect and equality for the smooth development of Sino-EU relations.
Juncker said that this is his fourth visit to China, and it will enable him to witness the progress of the development of China's western areas and promote the understanding of the Luxembourg people about China.
He agreed to Zhu's evaluation of bilateral relations, and said his current visit to China coincides with the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties, which is a great event in the history of bilateral relations.
Over the past 30 years, cooperation between China and Luxembourg has developed continuously, and the scope of cooperation has been expanded from iron and steel to such fields as finance, telecommunications and culture, Juncker said.
The two sides are engaged in more and more cooperative projects and have gained remarkable results, he added.
The Luxembourg government attaches importance to cooperation with China in the economic and trade area, and hopes to strengthen cooperation in the aviation and satellite sphere, and participate in China's economic progress, especially the development of its western areas, Juncker said.
Luxembourg attaches equal importance to cooperation and dialogue with China in the political sphere and international affairs, and will work with China to further the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
Juncker said that Luxembourg, as an EU member, has made positive efforts to push forward EU-China cooperation in various fields.
He referred to Luxembourg's positive role in enhancing mutual understanding between China and the EU by urging the two sides to establish a human rights dialogue mechanism in 1997.
Echoing Zhu, Juncker said he believed that the two sides should further strengthen consultations and exchanges, and properly settle their economic and trade disputes through dialogue.
(China Daily April 5, 2002)
