Chinese, Irish presidents vow to further ties ( 2003-10-09 23:36) (Xinhua)
Chinese President Hu Jintao and visiting Irish President Mary McAleese vowed
Thursday to enhance bilateral ties in their official talks.
Hu made a four-point proposal for strengthening Sino-Irish relations:
-- Enhance and develop political ties by maintaining high-level exchanges,
expanding inter-governmental and inter-parliamentary communication, and actively
developing political dialog and consultations at various levels.
-- Expand and deepen economic cooperation. China welcomes more Irish business
people to invest in China and encourages competent Chinese enterprises to
participate in infrastructure construction in Ireland.
-- Strengthen scientific and technological and cultural and educational
exchanges, make efforts to ensure the smooth operation of the joint fund for
science and technology and the sound operation of a cultural festival in the
other's territory next year, and promote a healthy and orderly development of
educational exchanges and cooperation.
-- Properly handle differences and expand consensus between the two countries
so as to make Sino-Irish ties a model of state-to- state relations between
countries of different social systems.
McAleese agreed to the proposal and said the Irish side is willing to work
with the Chinese side for the promotion and expansion of bilateral cooperation
in political, economic, educational, scientific and technological, and cultural
areas.
During the talks, Hu expressed appreciation of the Irish government's
adherence to the one-China policy and its support of China's reunification
cause.
China respects the development path chosen by the Iris people according to
Ireland's own national conditions, Hu said.
Hu said that China and Ireland shared similar and identical views on a number
of major international issues and common interests in international affairs. He
suggested both enhance consultation and cooperation for maintaining world peace,
stability and development.
McAleese spoke highly of China's active role in international affairs, in
particular in maintaining regional stability. Ireland will assume the rotating
presidency of the European Union next year and will make its own efforts for
pushing forward the bilateral relationship and enhancing coordination of the two
sides in international affairs, she said.
McAleese is on her first state visit since she took office in 1997, at the
invitation of Hu.
