On the afternoon of April 25, 2002, Chairman Li Peng of China's National People's Congress and his wife Zhu Lin met with visiting Cote d'Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo and Mrs. Gbagbo in a friendly manner at the Great Hall of the People.

Chairman Li Peng warmly welcomed Gbagbo to China, and happily recalled his visit to Cote d'Ivoire in 1986. He said that that visit left him greatly impressed. He noted that Gbagbo had a friendly and fruitful meeting with President Jiang Zemin on the previous day and reached broad consensus on many important issues in bilateral relations. He expressed the belief that the visit will be a complete success and open a new chapter in bilateral relations.

Li said that Cote d'Ivoire is an important Western African country. China has always paid close attention to the development of friendly and cooperative relations with Cote d'Ivoire in various fields. China's National People's Congress and the parliament of Cote d'Ivoire have maintained good cooperative relations, with constant personnel exchanges. Both sides have made active contributions to the development of bilateral relations. Li expressed the belief that with joint efforts, China-Cote d'Ivoire friendship will achieve greater development in the new century.

Li briefed Gbagbo on China's National People's Congress (NPC) system, the composition, responsibilities and operation of NPC and its Standing Committee. He said that practices have proven NPC system is the political system which best suits the actual conditions of China. China's National People's Congress will continue to strengthen contact and exchanges with the parliament of Cote d'Ivoire and help push forward bilateral friendly and cooperative relations.

Gbagbo thanked Chairman Li Peng and his wife for the meeting amidst their busy schedule. Gbagbo spoke highly of bilateral relations. He said that there exist no problems between the two countries. Cote d'Ivoire-China friendship has been developing smoothly since the two countries established diplomatic relations. Cote d'Ivoire will always uphold the One China policy, and regard Taiwan as an inalienable part of China. That is a firm stance Cote d'Ivoire will never change.