On December 16, 2002, President Jiang Zemin held talks with Guinea Bissau President Kumba Yalla who is on a working visit to China at the Great Hall of the People. The two sides exchanged views and reached extensive consensus on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest in a friendly and cordial atmosphere.

Extending welcome to Yalla, Jiang expressed appreciation to Yalla for the importance he has attached to developing relations with China and for promoting bilateral cooperation. He expressed the conviction that Yalla's ongoing visit to China will further deepen the mutual understanding and promote the further development of friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries.

Jiang spoke highly of bilateral political relations. He noted that despite the fact that China and Guinea Bissau are ocean apart, the two peoples have enjoyed long-running friendship which can date back to the time when the people of Guinea Bissau were struggling for national independence. He went on to say that in spite of setbacks in bilateral relations, the two countries opened a new chapter in their relationship after the resumption of their diplomatic relations in 1998. Bilateral cooperation in the areas of politics, trade and health has since progressed smoothly. He pointed out that it will serve the common interests of both countries and peoples, both being developing countries, to strengthen their bilateral friendship and expand their friendly cooperation with a view to jointly dealing with the challenges brought about by multi-polarization and globalization.

On bilateral economic relations and trade, Jiang noted that over the years, China has offered assistance to Guinea Bissau within its capacity and completed some projects there, which has played a positive role in the economic and social development of Guinea Bissau. He went on to say that the mutually beneficial cooperation on the principles of equality, mutual benefit and common development has yielded satisfying results, adding that the Chinese government will actively encourage its strong and prestigious firms to conduct various forms of mutually beneficial cooperation with Guinea Bissau so as to jointly promote new progress in bilateral economic cooperation and trade and to help upgrade bilateral relations to a new high.

Jiang also briefed Yalla on the history and present of the Taiwan question and China's principled stance. He expressed appreciation and gratitude to Yalla and the government of Guinea Bissau for their reiteration of One China policy on many occasions and for its support of China's reunification cause.

Jiang also briefed Yalla on the follow-up actions which have been going on smoothly after the ministerial-level China-Africa Cooperation Forum that was held successfully in Beijing in the year 2000. Following the forum, China fulfilled its commitment to forgive parts of debts which were due by signing agreements with 31 African countries. China-Africa cooperation in the area of human resources development has been enhanced, and in tourism, environmental protection and finance has also been launched. And a senior officials meeting was held last month in Ethiopia in preparation for the second ministerial-level Cooperation Forum to be held next year. Jiang said he was convinced that, through the joint efforts of both China and African nations, the follow-up actions of the forum will continue to move forward, and the mechanism of the ministerial-level meeting will effectively advance China-Africa friendly relations and cooperation in the new century.

Yalla thanked China for its selfless and sincere assistance over the years. He noted that the Chinese people started to render assistance and support to the Guinea Bissau people when the latter were still struggling for national independence, adding that the Chinese people are the sincere, great friends of the people of Guinea Bissau. He went on to say that although Guinea Bissau had made mistakes on its relations with China, it has finally returned to the right track and resolutely severed all forms of its relations with Taiwan. Yalla reaffirmed that it has been the set policy of the Government of Guinea Bissau to resolutely uphold the One China policy and to support China's territorial integrity and reunification cause.

Yalla said that the Guinea Bissau government sets store by its friendship with China and admires China for the great achievements it has scored since the inception of reform and opening-up policy. He said that his country hopes to learn from China's valuable experience in its economic construction, adding that it is his sincere hope that the two countries can work together to further expand and strengthen bilateral friendly relations and cooperation and bilateral friendship will consolidate and deepen in the process. He said that friendship with China has become part of Guinea Bissau's national interests. He urged Chinese business people to invest in his country and take part in the economic construction of Guinea Bissau so that the economic development of Guinea Bissau will have even stronger bond with China.

Following the talks, the two presidents attended a ceremony during which the two governments signed an agreement on bilateral economic and technological cooperation.