Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, said Wednesday that Serbia and Montenegro is China's important cooperative partner in Southeast Europe and China values its relations with the country.

Jia Qinglin (R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with Zoran Sami, speaker of Serbia and Montenegro' Parliament, in Beijing, China, Jan. 12, 2005.

Jia made the remarks in his meeting with Serbia and Montenegro's parliament speaker Zoran Sami.

"China and Serbia and Montenegro enjoy deep friendship and our relations have withstood the vicissitude of time," said Jia.

In line with mutual respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual benefit and non-interference of internal affairs, the two countries respected each other's choices of developing paths suitable to its own national conditions as well as the other's domestic and foreign policies, he said.

"We also showed understanding and support to the other in a number of key issues concerning fundamental national interests, " Jia said. "In international and regional affairs, we maintained good communication and cooperation."

Jia expressed China's appreciation to Serbia and Montenegro's adherence to the one-China policy and its support to China's legislative process for drafting the Anti- secession Law.

Jia said China and Serbia and Montenegro enjoy good political ties and China is willing to undertake more concrete cooperation with Serbia and Montenegro in the fields of economy, trade, culture, science, technology and education.

Sami, who is visiting China as Jia's guest, said the two countries enjoyed deep traditional friendship and enjoy broad consensus on a number of issues.

He said his country is willing to expand economic and trade cooperation with China based on their good political relations.