On the morning of April 29, 2002, Chairman Li Peng of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) met with visiting Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri at the Great Hall of the People.

Li happily recalled Hariri's China visit in 1996, during which they had fruitful talks, and voiced his satisfaction with the positive development of bilateral relations since then.

Li said that China is pleased to see that the Lebanese people are recovering rapidly from its civil war and from the long occupation by Israel, and striving to re-build the beautiful country. As a Chinese saying goes, heaven rewards those who work hard. We believe that Lebanon is bound to regain past prosperity soon with the unremitting efforts of the hard-working and brave Lebanese people.

Li noted that Sino-Lebanese friendship dates back to ancient times and bilateral friendship and cooperation have progressed smoothly in the fields of politics, economy and culture since the two countries forged diplomatic ties over 30 years ago. China and Lebanon, both developing countries, share similar views on major international and regional issues and they have always understood and supported each other. Li also mentioned Lebanese parliament leader Nabih Berri's successful visit to China last year and the Lebanese parliament delegation's participation in the third annual meeting of the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace (AAPP) convened in China not long ago. Li said that constant contacts and exchanges between parliaments and parliamentarians of China and Lebanon will positively promote bilateral friendship and cooperation in all fields.

Hariri said he and his entourage witnessed China's remarkable development in various fields in recent years, and Lebanon is delighted to see China's achievements as China is a sincere friend of the Lebanese and Arab people. Lebanon is satisfied with the bilateral friendship and cooperation in all fields, including those between the two parliaments, and Lebanon would work with China to continue to push forward the development of bilateral friendship and cooperation.

They also exchanged in-depth views on the Middle East issue. Li congratulated Lebanon on its successful hosting of the Arab summit, and reiterated the Chinese government's and people's consistent firm support for the just cause of the Lebanese and Arab people.