On December 17, 2002, Premier Zhu Rongji met with Guinea Bissau President Kumba Yalla who was on a working visit to China in Shanghai.

Zhu welcomed Yalla's first visit to China, and expressed the belief that the visit will enhance Yalla's and the Guinea Bissau people's understanding of and friendship with China and promote bilateral friendly cooperation.

Zhu said that since Yalla came into office, he attaches great importance to developing relations with China, adheres to the One China position, and supports China's reunification cause, for which China expresses its appreciation and gratitude. At present, relations between China and Guinea Bissau are advancing smoothly, and the two countries have cooperated effectively in such fields as agriculture, fisheries, construction, machinery, culture, education and health care.

He said that on the previous day, Yalla and President Jiang Zemin held friendly and fruitful talks and signed new cooperation agreements. The Chinese government values its traditional friendly cooperative ties with Guinea Bissau and is willing to join hands with this nation to actively implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and explore new possibilities and approaches under new circumstances for cooperation in order to expand overall bilateral cooperation.

Zhu believes the friendly cooperative ties between China and Guinea Bissau will see further achievements in the new century under the principles of sincerity and friendship, treating each other as equals, unity and cooperation, common development and gearing towards the future.

Zhu also briefed the president on the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China as well as on China's achievements in the areas of reform and opening up to the rest of the world, adding that China will continue to implement current internal and external policies and join hands with developing countries in the international arena.

Yalla extended his thanks for China's long-standing sincere assistance to Guinea Bissau, noting that it was China that offered sincere assistance when Guinea Bissau was faced with the most difficult obstacles in its struggle for national independence. He said that the people of Guinea Bissau consider the Chinese people as comrades and friends, adding that his government has decided to correct its past errors in handling its relations with China and return to the correct track of friendly relations.

He emphasized that Guinea Bissau will respect history, respect friends and value its friendship with China, stressing that his country will firmly adhere to the One China policy and support China's territorial integrity and reunification cause.

Yalla also expressed gladness at the opportunity to visit China and admired and appreciated China's great achievements in its economic development.