On the afternoon of April 27, 2004, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met respectively with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien, Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, and Bhutanese Foreign Minister Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk in Shanghai, who are attending the 60^th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Li expressed his welcome for their presence and exchanged views with them on issues of common interest.

When meeting with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, Li said that China and Laos, as friendly neighbors, have frequent exchanges of top-level visits and maintain good coordination in international and regional affairs. The Chinese side would like to continue working closely with Laos in regional cooperation, especially in promoting China-ASEAN cooperation. Li expressed his congratulations upon Laos's upcoming rotating presidency of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and for its holding of ASEAN+China, Japan, ROK (10+3) and ASEAN-China bilateral meeting (10+1) and indicated as well that Chian would give active support.

Lengsavad noted that China is Laos's sincere friend. The Lao government and people are thankful for china's long-term and valuable support and assistance and hope that the cooperation between the two countries in various fields can be continuously enhanced.  Laos, which will hold ASEAN+China, Japan, ROK (10+3) and ASEAN-China bilateral meeting (10+1) this year, hopes to work closely with China so as to bring about the success of the meetings.

Li said to Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien that currently China-Vietnam relations enjoy good momentum for development. The two countries have witnessed frequent contacts between leaders of the two countries, increasingly enhanced friendly exchanges and cooperation in economic and trade areas and their boundary and territorial issues left over by history being gradually resolved. To the pleasure of the two sides, the follow-up negotiations on the Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on Fishery Cooperation in the Beibu Bay have ended through their joint efforts. The Beibu Bay demarcation agreement and the agreement for fishery cooperation are expected to officially take effect by the end of the second quarter of this year. China stands ready to work together with Vietnam to actively explore and deepen cooperation in various fields in a bid to bring about more tangible benefits to the two peoples.

Nguyen Dy Nien said that as China's friendly neighbor, Vietnam attaches great importance to developing relations with China, and would like to strengthen exchanges of top-level visits between the two countries, enhance mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields and maintain coordination in international and regional affairs.

When meeting with Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, Li noted that since their establishment, China-Sri Lanka relations on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have enjoyed smooth development with the attention given by generations of leaders of the two countries. The two peoples have increasingly enhanced their friendship and have maintained good cooperation in international affairs. China and Sri Lanka enjoy mutual understanding, mutual respect and mutual support despite different national conditions. Adhering to the diplomatic guideline of maintaining friendship and partnership with our neighboring countries, the Chinese government would like to work together with neighboring countries including Sri Lanka to help and learn from each other, so as to actively promote exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields, realize the win-win situation and achieve common development.

Kadirgamar said that Sri Lanka and China have enjoyed time-honored friendship. The two sides have continuously consolidated their relations since their diplomatic ties established. Developing Sri Lanka-China friendly relations is the consistent policy of the government of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka hopes to strengthen the mutually-beneficial cooperation with China on the current basis in such areas as economy and trade and to push the relations between the two countries to a higher level.

Li expressed his appreciations for these three countries' adherence to the one-China policy and introduced his views on the Taiwan issue. The Foreign Ministers of these three countries unanimously indicated their adherence to the one-China policy and their support for China's lofty cause of reunification.

When meeting with Bhutanese Foreign Minister Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, Li noted that Bhutan is a friendly neighbor linked to China by rivers and mountains. China cherishes the traditional friendship between the two countries and would like to develop cooperative relations with Bhutan.

Wangchuk expressed his thanks for the Chinese government's invitation for his presence at the 60^th Session of ESCAP in Shanghai. He said that as China does, Bhutan cherishes the friendship between the two countries and supports China's stance on the issues of Taiwan and human rights.