On the afternoon of March 24, 2002, in a cordial atmosphere, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Li Peng met with Joseph Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at the Great Hall of the People. Li extended a welcome to Kabila for his visit and spoke highly of Sino-DRC relations.

Li said that although China and the DRC were far apart, the two peoples have a long history of friendly contacts, marked achievements have been made in bilateral cooperation and mutual understanding and trust have increased continuously. All these lay a favorable foundation for the two countries to establish long-term stable friendly relations of cooperation based on mutual beneficiality in the new century.

Li said that both China and Congo are developing countries, share broad interest on many major international issues and have cooperated well in international affairs. The Chinese side wishes to intensify the cooperation with the DRC on the issue of international human rights, to oppose interference in internal affairs on human rights grounds by some western countries and to safeguard the common interest of the vast developing countries including China and Congo and other legitimate rights and interests hand in hand.

Li said that China has always valued its traditional friendship and the friendly relations of cooperation with the DRC. The Chinese side is willing to continue expanding the friendly exchanges on various levels and new areas and approches of cooperation in the efforts to ensure a sustained development on a sound and stable track all the time.

Kabila, on his part, thanked Li for his cordial meeting.

Kabila pointed out that there are brotherly relations existing between the DRC and China, which are highly valued and will be intensified by the dedication of the DRC.

Kabila also said that the DRC is rich in resources but at present the war has brought about many difficulties. However, the DRC people are striving for peace and reconstruction.
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Kabila said that China has for long time offered priceless support and help to the DRC, adding that he welcomed more Chinese enterprises to invest and participate in the DRC's reconstruction and development so as to intensify the cooperation in fields of trade and economy and diplomacy between the two countries.