Libyan leader Gaddafi met with visiting Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan on January 10, 2001.

Tang thanked the Libyan government for its hospitality accorded to the Chinese delegation and conveyed the cordial greetings from President Jiang Zemin to Gaddafi, for which Gaddafi expressed his gratitude. He also asked Tang to convey his cordial greetings and best wishes to President Jiang. He reiterated his invitation to Jiang to visit Libya at his convenience. Tang said President Jiang appreciated his invitation and will be pleased to have an opportunity to visit Libya and have an in-depth exchange of views on China-Libya relations and international issues of mutual concern.

Tang said that both China and Libya are developing countries that share the same historical experience of being bullied and robbed by western powers and for their national independence and liberation. Now both of them are faced with the formidable task of safeguarding their national independence and sovereignty and rejuvenating their economies. The Chinese government has all along attached great importance to its ties with Libya. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries 23 years ago, with the personal care of the Libyan and Chinese leaders, bilateral contacts at all levels have been frequent and their friendly relations and cooperation in all fields has developed very rapidly.

Tang spoke highly of Libya's just position of unswervingly supporting China's reunification cause and appreciated the active role Libya has played in diffusing regional conflicts in Africa and in promoting the integration process of Africa.

Tang reiterated China's consistent position of opposing sanctions against Libya, pledging to work with the international community and make unremitting efforts for the complete lifting of sanctions against Libya at an early date.

Gaddafi said that Libya attaches great importance to its relations with China, adding that Libya stands ready to work alongside China to establish Sino-African strategic partnership of cooperation. He expressed the hope that China, as the most influential developing country, will continue to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the developing world and play an even greater role in international affairs.

Gaddafi also briefed Tang on the African Union that Libya is actively working to put in place. Tang said that to strengthen and develop friendly relations and cooperation with African countries is part and parcel of China's independent foreign policy of peace. He also briefed Gaddafi on the Forum on Sino-African Cooperation, Ministerial Conference, Beijing, 2000, held in Beijing last year. He was convinced that with the concerted efforts of both China and Africa, the long-term, stable, new partnership featuring equality and mutual benefit would be further consolidated and strengthened in the new century. He stressed that against the backdrop of economic globalization in the world, developing countries should be united to meet the challenges posed by globalization. China adopts an active attitude towards the establishment of African Union.