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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, June 11, 2002

Jiang Pledges New China-Latvia Ties

Chinese President Jiang Zemin said Monday in Riga that China hopes to develop long-term stable and cooperative relations with Latvia.


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Chinese President Jiang Zemin said Monday in Riga that China hopes to develop long-term stable and cooperative relations with Latvia.

Jiang held talks with Vaira Vike-Freiberga, president of Latvia, shortly after his arrival in Riga for a state visit. During the talks, Jiang said although China and Latvia are far away from each other and differ in social systems, cultural traditions and values, they respect each other and always try to seek common ground while reserving differences.

On bilateral relations and cooperation
As a result, China and Latvia have had smooth development of relations, Jiang said, adding that such a relationship would serve the interests of people in both countries.

"China pays great attention to developing relations with Latvia," Jiang said. "We are willing to develop long-term stable and cooperative relations with Latvia under the principles of mutual respect, non-interference with each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence."

The Chinese president said China considers Latvia an important passage linking Asia and Europe, and therefore hopes to have active cooperation with Latvia in areas of trade, economic cooperation and transportation.

The two countries can also have good cooperation within the framework of the World Trade Organization, he said.

China was among the first to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with Latvia. The two countries established full diplomatic relations in September 1991. Jiang is the first Chinese president to have ever visited the Baltic nation. He will stay here until Wednesday.

Vike-Freiberga said she has expected the visit for a long time, and believes such a visit would increase mutual understanding and be conducive to mutually beneficial cooperation.

The Latvian president said she agreed to Jiang's comments on bilateral relations and his proposal for developing bilateral cooperation. She said Latvia has its own advantages in information technology and transportation, and hopes to work with the Chinese side to expand such cooperation.

After Jiang briefed Vike-Freiberga on China's stance on the Taiwan issue, the Latvian president said Latvia recognizes the sensitivity of the Taiwan issue, and reiterated that Latvia will continue to adhere to the one-China policy.

She said Latvia understands and supports the wish of the Chinese people to resolve the Taiwan issue at an earlier time.

On international issues
When the two presidents exchanged views on international issues, Jiang said peace and development are still the main theme of the time although terrorism became an outstanding issue following the September 11 incident.

"To maintain peace and strengthen common development, China holds that the democratization of international relations should be promoted," Jiang said. "All countries, regardless of their size, wealth, and strength, should equally participate in the international affairs."

Jiang said the diversity of the world should be respected, and all countries are entitled to choose their own approaches of development. The difference in social systems and values should not be an obstacle in developing state relations, Jiang stressed.

The Chinese president said China and Latvia have common interests and concerns in developing economy, safeguarding national interests and maintaining world peace and development. China is ready to increase exchange with Latvia on outstanding issues concerning interests of both countries.

Prior to the talks, Vike-Freiberga held a grand ceremony to welcome Jiang.

Xinhua Contributes to This Report



China and Latvia
  • A brief review of Sino-Latvian bilateral political relations

    On September 12, 1991, the Joint Communique of the Establishment of Sino-Latvian Diplomatic Relations was signed by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Tian Zengpei and his Latvian counterpart Sandra.Kalniets in Riga.

  • Political relations and important exchanges

    On March 21 1998, Latvian Premier Guntars.Krasts congratulated Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji by letter on his successful election.

  • Bilateral economic and trade ties and economic and technological cooperation

    In recent years, Sino-Latvian economic and trade cooperation has made some progress and has increasingly taken various forms. Up to now the two nations have signed the agreements on economic and trade cooperation, avoiding double taxation and tax-evasion, and the inspection of commodities, which provided a sound legal foundation for bilateral cooperation in specific fields.

  • Exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture, technology and education

    From January 10 to 17 1998, a three-member delegation of the Latvian Latvia's Way led by Leiskalns visited China at the invitation of the Association for International Understanding of China.

  • Military Exchanges

    From July 10 to 17 1998, Latvian Defense Minister Talavs.Jundis led a delegation for China at the invitation of General Chi Haotian, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the P.R.C., state councilor, and defense minister. Chi Haotian held a talk with Talavs.Jundis. Vice-Premier Li Lanqing and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan met respectively with the delegation led by Talavs.Jundis. The Latvian delegation also visited Dalian and Shanghai.

  • Important bilateral agreements

    On September 12 1991, the Joint Communique of the Establishment of Sino-Latvian Diplomatic Relations was signed by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Tian Zengpei and his Latvian counterpart Sandra.kalniets in Riga, the capital of Latvia.

  • New Developments in Bilateral and Multilateral Relations in 2000

    September 9-11, at the invitation of the Assembly and Government of the Republic of Latvia, N.P.C. Standing Committee Chairman Li Peng paid an official goodwill visit to Latvia. This was Chairman Li Peng�s first visit to the country and also the first visit by China at the highest level in the past nine years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

    Sources from: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs



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