China, Andean Community to promote cooperation

China and Andean countries vowed on Thursday to enhance their dialogue and deepen cooperation in political, economic and other fields.

The two sides demonstrated their desire to strengthen ties, expand trade and promote mutual economic development, so as to achieve sustainable development that will bring social harmony and happiness to the people of both sides, said a joint communique issued after visiting Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong met with foreign ministers of the Andean Community (Ancom) countries.

During the meeting, the highest-level meeting since the two sides inked an agreement in 2000 to establish the Political Consultation and Cooperation Mechanism, the two sides reviewed developments in the bilateral political, economic and social relations and discussed possible future cooperation, according to the communique.

The two sides agreed that international relations should be based on multilateralism and full respect for international norms and existing commitments. This serves as the basis on which China and Andean countries will develop political cooperation, the communique said.

The Ancom member states -- Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia -- hoped that China would play a major role in helping strengthening Ancom's ties with the Asia-Pacific region, the document said. In return, they would like to push for closer ties between China and the South American Community of Nations, which groups the five Ancom countries and seven other South American states.

Zeng briefed the Andean foreign ministers on the situation across the Taiwan Strait and the drafting of the anti-secession law by the National People's Congress, China's legislature.

The Andean ministers reiterated their support for the one-China policy and the Chinese government's policy of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems."

Both sides also called for more efforts to produce concrete cooperation projects in priority fields -- trade, investment, natural resources, technology, environmental protection, sustainable development and combat against drug trafficking.

Zeng is expected to leave Peru Friday for Venezuela, the third leg of his five-nation tour of Latin America and the Caribbean. The trip will also take him to Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.

Zeng is to attend the opening ceremony of the first ministerial-level meeting of the China-Caribbean Economy and Trade Cooperation Forum 2005 on Feb. 2 in Kingston, capital of Jamaica.