China, Bolivia presidents agree to further ties

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-09-22 09:43

NEW YORK: Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Bolivian counterpart Evo Morales pledged on Monday to further develop the friendly cooperative relations between the two countries.

During his meeting with Morales, Hu said that thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, both countries have pushed forward bilateral relations in recent years, and cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, culture, education, science and technology and sports has produced fruitful results.

China attaches great importance to developing its friendly cooperative relations with Bolivia, and is ready to work with the Bolivian side to further develop relations between the two countries, he said.

The Chinese president put forth a four-point proposal on the further development of China-Bolivia relations.

Firstly, the two sides should enhance their sincere and friendly political relations. The Chinese side is willing to continue high-level contacts and exchanges with the Bolivian side, to boost political trust and extend support to each other on issues of mutual concern.

Secondly, both countries should expand mutually-beneficial cooperation. The Chinese side is ready to expand imports from Bolivia, encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Bolivia and support cooperation between enterprises of the two countries in such fields as gas and oil, mining, agriculture and infrastructure, he said.

Thirdly, the two countries should promote humanitarian exchanges, and fourthly, the two sides should enhance cooperation on international and regional affairs.

The Chinese side is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Bolivia on major international and regional issues, and jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of both countries and other developing countries, he said.

For his part, Morales said the two countries have conducted good cooperation in politics, and share wide-ranging common interests.

Bolivia is ready to make concerted efforts with the Chinese side to deepen cooperation in such fields as transportation, communications and education, so as to further develop bilateral relations between the two countries, he said.

The Chinese president arrived here Monday for a UN climate change summit and other UN meetings. He will also attend a financial summit of the Group of 20 (G20) in Pittsburgh scheduled for September 24-25.