President Dos Santos of Angola met with visiting Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan on the morning of January 16, 2001. Tang first conveyed the cordial greetings from President Jiang Zemin, for which Dos Santos expressed gratitude. He also asked Tang to convey his greetings and best wishes to President Jiang.

Tang noted that the two peoples have enjoyed profound and traditional friendship, adding that the two countries have conducted fruitful cooperation in political, economic and other fields since they established diplomatic ties. He pointed out that the exchange of high-level visits between the two countries has greatly boosted the development of bilateral ties. Tang expressed gratitude and appreciation to President Dos Santos and the government of Angola for their adherence to the One China Principle, support for China's reunification cause, upholding justice at the UN Human Rights Commission and its consistent support to China over the years.

Tang went on to say that the recent years have witnessed great development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, adding that Angola has become the 2nd largest trade partner of China in Africa. He noted that compared with bilateral political ties, bilateral economic and trade ties still lag far behind. He stressed that the economies of the two countries are highly complementary and therefore enjoy great potentials for further cooperation. He pointed out that China stands ready to join hands with Angola to further intensify bilateral cooperation in all areas on the basis of mutual benefit, mutual accommodation and common development.

Dos Santos noted that China successfully hosted the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation-Ministerial Conference, Beijing, 2000 last year, during which questions of most concern in Africa were discussed, adding that China decided to exempt some debts of the poorest countries in Africa during the conference, for which he expressed gratitude. He went on to say that the government of Angola attaches great importance to China's important role in the international political arena, appreciates China's active role in the peace process of Angola and thanks China for its support to Angola in the UN Security Council. He noted that the two countries have conducted good cooperation in such areas as petroleum, construction and fishery, with which the government of Angola is very satisfied. He voiced the hope that the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries can be further enhanced and intensified.

Dos Santos also briefed Tang in great details on the stance of the government of Angola of committing to the political settlement of the question of the Democratic Republic of Congo and conflicts in Angola's neighboring countries. He stressed that only by restoring peace and stability of the relevant countries can Angola enjoy a good environment for development.

Tang noted that Angola is an important country in Africa and expressed appreciation for the ever more important role of Angola in maintaining regional peace and stability and in promoting economic cooperation and development.

Tang went on to say that China and Angola have a consensus on the question of the Democratic Republic of Congo and China holds that the conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo should be politically resolved through dialogues and consultations on the basis that parties concerned respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo and in the spirits of African unity and national reconciliation. China also maintains that parties concerned should work to restore peace, stability and security in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its surrounding areas and restore good-neighborly and friendly relations between the Democratic Republic of Congo and its surrounding countries.

On the very afternoon, Tang also held talks with Foreign Minister De Mora and met with General Secretary of Angola's ruling party MPLA.