On November 7, President Jiang Zemin met with Prime Minister Barak Tame Sope of the Republic of Vanuatu, who was on an official visit to China, in a warm atmosphere at Zhongnanhai.

President Jiang lauded Sope as an old friend of the Chinese people and praised his great attention to promoting bilateral relations and dedication to developing friendly relations and cooperation. He expressed the conviction that the prime minister's current visit would help deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries and peoples and therefore promote further development of bilateral friendly relations and cooperation.

President Jiang said bilateral relations and cooperation have been developing smoothly since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vanuatu, with frequent high-level contacts. Bilateral cooperation and exchanges in political, economic, trade, cultural, health care and other areas have been expanding and are fruitful. Close coordination in international and economic affairs have been increasingly strengthened. Such exchanges and cooperation have deepened mutual understanding and friendship, injecting new vitality into the development of bilateral ties.

Although China and Vanuatu are far apart geographically, different in social systems, development level, and cultural background, they are both developing countries of the Asia-Pacific region shouldering the same tasks of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, developing their national economies, and lifting people's living standard. The two countries have no serious conflicts, but share wide-ranging common interests in maintaining regional peace and stability and promoting regional economic prosperity. It conforms to the fundamental interests of the two peoples and their common aspiration to further develop and strengthen bilateral friendly relations and cooperation. The Chinese government places great importance on its friendship with Vanuatu, hopes it will score greater progress on its future path to development, and expresses willingness to push bilateral ties up to another high in the new century through concerted efforts.

Sope said that he was pleased at the opportunity to visit China again. He said that bilateral ties and cooperation have been developing rapidly since the forging of diplomatic relations between Vanuatu and China in 1982. The friendship and cooperation are built upon a solid foundation. He also reaffirmed Vanuatu's consistent adherence to the One-China Policy.

President Jiang said he appreciated Vanuatu's adherence to the One-China Policy in the past years and its suppport of China's just position on issues concerning Taiwan at the South Pacific Forum meetings.