On April 26, 2002, upon the conclusion of Premier Zhu Rongji's official visit to Turkey, Egypt and Kenya, Vice Foreign Minister Yang Wenchang, who accompanied Zhu on the visit, met with the accompanying Chinese correspondents and briefed them on the major achievements of Zhu's visit.
Yang said that Zhu's official visit to the three countries from April 15 to 26 is another important diplomatic move made by a Chinese leader to developing countries in West Asia and Africa. During the visit, Zhu held meetings and talks with the heads of state, heads of government and parliamentary leaders of the three countries, extensively contacted people from all walks of life in the three countries, made speeches to the Turkish and Egyptian business communities, and met separately with the Secretary-General of the Arab League and UNEP and UN-Habitat Executive Directors, the headquarters of the latter two are located in Nairobi.
Yang said that Turkey, Egypt and Kenya have long-term friendly relations with China, and they strongly desire to strengthen cooperation with China in all fields in an all-round way in the new century. At the same time, against the background of current complicated and changing international and regional situation, the three countries attach great importance to China's constructive role internationally, and look forward to strengthening cooperation with China in achieving regional peace and stability and promoting economic development. The three countries have accorded Zhu warm, friendly and high-level reception on the trip. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak extended an invitation and held a meeting with Zhu. Kenya President Moi went to the airport to welcome and see off Zhu and hosted the talks. The media in the three countries gave a comprehensive and full coverage of the visit. Premier Zhu had an in-depth exchange of views with the leaders of the three countries on bilateral relations and international and regional issues, and reached broad consensus. China signed with the three countries cooperation agreements on trade, investment, agriculture, information technology, quaratine, the customs, education and other fields.
Yang said that Premier Zhu's visit is a complete success, and achieved the purpose of enhancing mutual trust, deepening friendship, expanding common ground, and promoting cooperation. Yang concluded the achievements in three ways.
I Enhanced the political relations of mutual trust between China and the three countries. President Jiang Zemin paid state visits to the three countries separately in 1996, 1999 and 2000, and reached important consensus with the three heads of state on the development of bilateral relations in the new century. Zhu spoke highly of new progress in friendly relations between China and the three countries recently, stressed that they should enhance mutual trust and deepen bilateral relations under the principled guidance set by President Jiang Zemin and the three heads of state. Zhu pointed out that this is not only in the fundamental interests of China and the three countries, but also of importance in promoting regional peace, stability and development. The leaders of the three countries fully agreed with Zhu's views and said that they attach great importance to relations with China and will be more actively dedicated to friendship with China under new circumstances. Turkish prime minister expressed the resolve to enrich the content of bilateral relations on the basis of consensus reached by the two heads of state. Egyptian president and prime minister stressed that Egypt has always regarded China as its closest friend. Kenyan president praised China as a trustworthy friend of African countries as China has always sincerely helped African countries. The leaders of the three countries reaffirmed that they will adhere to the One China principled position and support China in its peaceful reunification. Turkish leaders also said that Xinjiang is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Turkish government is opposed to anyone conducting anti-China separatist activities on the Turkish soil.
II Promoted economic and trade cooperation. Zhu emphasized in the visit that China attaches great importance to economic and trade relations with the three countries. China's further reform and opening up and its accession to the WTO have opened broader prospects for the development of economic and trade relations between China and the three countries. The two sides have great cooperation potential to tap in such areas as trade, investment, agriculture, medicine, personnel training and infrastructure building. Turkey and Egypt will become tourism destinations for Chinese citizens, which will greatly promote tourism cooperation between China and Turkey and Egypt. The Chinese government encourages Chinese enterprises investing and setting up plants in the three countries, and welcome more marketable products from the three countries in the Chinese market so as to achieve robust growth and overall balance in economic ties and trade. In meetings with the leaders of the three countries and speeches made to the Turkish and Egyptian business communities, Zhu put forward concrete proposals on expanding trade scale, optimizing trade pattern, promoting two-way investment and enhancing mutual understanding between the business communities. The leaders of the three countries spoke highly of Zhu's view and proposals and made positive responses. They said that they would cooperate actively with the Chinese side and provide more conveniences for bilateral trade and investment exchanges. The business communities in Turkey and Egypt had a warm response for Zhu's speech and are more enthusiastic about exchanges with China. During the visit, Zhu reached important consensus with the leaders of the three countries and China signed agreements with the three countries, which shows that economic cooperation and trade between China and the three countries will develop in terms of profundity and broadth. It is of positive importance for consolidating and deepening bilateral relations, reaching the win-win situation for China and relevant countries, and helping Chinese enterprises to take part more actively in international competition.
III Enhanced coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs. The visit came at a time of serious escalation in the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Middle East situation has raised serious concern of the world community. Zhu reaffirmed in the visit China's consistant position on the Middle East issue, and brifed his hosts on China's efforts to ease the tension in the Middle East. He urged Israel to implement relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and withdraw troops from the Palestinian area immediately and stop the siege of President Arafat. Zhu said that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China will work with the international community, including the countries he was visiting, to continue to make its due efforts for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the Middle East region. The leaders of the three countries highly appreciate China's constructive role in international affairs and the just position on the Middle East issue. They expressed the willingness to strengthen consultation with China on relevant international and regional affairs, and closely cooperate with China in the UN and WTO. Kenyan leaders spoke highly of China's Africa policy and its active contributions to promoting the development of Africa, and praised China for reducing debts of African countries and training more personnel for Africa, both being important measures by China to implement the follow-up action of China-Africa Forum.
In his meeting with the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Zhu said that China actively supports the initiative by the Arab League to establish Sino-Arab Cooperation Forum. While meeting with UNEP and UN-Habitat Executive Directors, Zhu briefed them on China's efforts to achieve sustainable development and expressed the hope to strengthen cooperation between China and the two institutions. The leaders of the international and regional organizations warmly welcomed Zhu and looked forward to new achievements in friendly cooperation with China.
Contact us Address: No. 2, Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100701 Tel: 86-10-65961114