On the afternoon of April 16, 2002, President Jiang Zemin, who just arrived in Tunisia for a state visit, held warm and frienly talks with Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali at the latter's presidential palace.

Ben Ali first extened, on behalf of the Tunisian government and its people, a warm welcome to Jiang for his visit. He said that the two countries have enjoyed a traditional friendship and the Tunisian people are developing a dear and respectful feeling towards the Chinese people. Since his last visit to China in 1991, bilateral relations are proceeding swiftly. They have been expecting Jiang's visit for quite some time. He is convinced Jiang's visit will give bilateral friendly cooperation a new push.

Jiang said that he met Ben Ali ten years ago when the latter visited China, and felt glad to meet Ben Ali again. He expressed the belief that his current visit will help the two sides to enhance mutual understanding and trust and promote China-Tunisia relations to develop further.

Jiang spoke highly of good relations and cooperation between China and Tunisia. He said that since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 38 years ago and no matter how the international situation changes, both sides have always respected and supported each other, cooperated sincerely and joined hands in development and scored remarkable progress in political, economic, cultural and health-care sectors. China and Tunisia, both as developing nations, have reached extensive consensus on major international and regional issues and cooperated in a good way. Describing the Tunisian people as China's sincere friends, Jiang said it is the Chinese government's set policy to strengthen the China-Tunisia friendly cooperation in an overall way. At present, the world multi-polarization and economic globalization are growing in an in-depth way and the two countries should further tighten cooperation to make bilateral ties score a new high in the new century. He proposed the following. First, the two countries should strengthen friendly exchanges at all levels, high-level contacts in particular, so as to increase mutual understanding. Jiang invited Ben Ali to visit China next year at his own convenience. Second, the two sides should open new areas of economic and trade cooperation, explore new ways of bilateral cooperation and enrich the content of bilateral relations. Third, we should further strengthen consultaion and coordination in international areas, and jointly maintain the legitimate interests of the two countries and developing countries.

On bilateral economic and trade ties, Jiang said the cooperation is expanding and both sides should continue to make joint efforts to explore new areas and new ways.

Ben Ali gladly accepted Jiang's invitation. He said that in recent years, China has made positive contributions to Tunisia's economic development. Chinese assistance projects in agriculture and infrastructure building have improved the living and economic conditions in remote areas in Tunisia. The Tunisian people would like to express profound thanks. He fully agreed upon Jiang's proposals on reinforcing bilateral ties, especially those on economic and trade cooperation. The Tunisian side will collaborate with the Chinese side to increase the scale and level of economic cooperation and trade to better match bilateral political relationship.

The two sides briefed each other on respective domestic political and economic situations. Jiang pointed out that both China and Tunisia are successfully exploring ways of development that better fit their own circumstances and one of the successful experiences is to do a good job in handling the relations among the reform, development and stability. After 20 years of hard work, China has made remarkable achievements in reform, opening up and modernization drive. In the big environment of obvious global economic slowdown last year, the Chinese economy continues to develop in a sustainable, rapid and sound manner. Certainly China is also faced with some development issues, and are taking active measures to solve them.

Ben Ali said that China is a vast country with a big population. In recent years, China has witnessed rapid economic development and great increase of people's living standards. Tunisia should learn from China's experiences in developing its country.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional situations, particularly the Middle East issue, and agreed to oppose Israel's military strike against Palestine. They urged Israel to immediately implement relevant resolutions of the U.N. Security Council and pull out of the Palestinian areas. Jiang noted that China, as permanent member of the Security Council, has always supported the Middle East peace process and made positive contributions to ease the regional tension. China is ready to maintain close contacts and consultations with Arab nations, including Tunisia, to continue to contribute to an early settlement of the Middle East issue.

After the talks, the two sides signed seven documents, respectively on China's offering of interest-free loan to Tunisia, on ecomonic and technological cooperation, on maritime transportation, on civil aviation transportation, on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of evasion with respect to tax, on implementation plan of cultural cooperation for the years of 2002, 2003 and 2004, as well as on China's sending medical team to work in Tunisia. The two leaders were present at the signing ceremony.