Colombian presidents: China visit "fruitful"

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Velez told Chinese leaders in Beijing Thursday that his first state visit to China is "fruitful."

Wu Bangguo (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, shakes hands with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe during a meeting in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 7, 2005.

The president met with China's top legislator Wu Bangguo and chairman of the nation's top advisory body Jia Qinglin on Thursday on separate occasions.

He also visited the Memorial Hall of late Chairman Mao Zedong, the Great Wall and the Palace Museum.

Uribe arrived in China on Wednesday. His entourage included several cabinet ministers, business people and university presidents, which he said "demonstrated the strong desire" of the Colombian Government to develop relationship with China.

China and Colombia signed five documents Wednesday for further cooperation in the areas of plant and animal quarantine, information and telecommunication, film exhibition, economy and technology.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and President Uribe witnessed the signing of three agreements and two memorandums of understanding.

Jia Qinglin (R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, shakes hands with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe during a meeting in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 7, 2005.

Hu proposed, during hour-long formal talks prior to the signing, that the two sides should strengthen governmental, parliamentary and party-to-party exchanges and promote cooperation in the areas of energy, petrochemicals, light industry, mechanical and electronics.

China and Colombia should expand exchange in cultural, educational, scientific and technological fields and enhance cooperation on regional and international forums like the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, World Health Organization and the Organization of American States, said the Chinese president.

China and Colombia established diplomatic relations 25 years ago. Colombia has supported China on the issues of Taiwan and human rights on many occasions.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's parliament, told Uribe Thursday that China is ready to bring its relations with Colombia to a higher ground on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and common development.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said he believes the China-Colombia "cooperative relationship" will bear more fruit as the two have been "trustworthy friends."

President Uribe said Colombia hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in the areas of trade, investment, energy, textiles, agriculture animal husbandry and tourism.

He pledged to uphold the one-China policy and support China's reunification.