Zhu's visit to India hailed as a success
( 2002-01-18 00:28) (1)
Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi Thursday said Premier Zhu Rongji's visit to India has been a success in promoting Sino-Indian relations.
At a regular briefing, Sun said the visit has ``consolidated the friendship between China and India, enhanced understanding and trust and promoted exchanges and co-operation in all fields.''
The two countries have agreed they have a greater consensus on shared issues than disputes and more interests than friction, said Sun.
He added the existing issues between the two countries should not place obstacles in the way of the development of bilateral relations and should be resolved through consultation.
Zhu is scheduled to wind up his five-day visit to India Friday.
During the visit, he held talks with Indian officials including Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and agreed on a plan to co-operate in tourism, the peaceful utilization of the outer space, water conservancy, personnel exchanges, science and technology and plant quarantine.
China has also decided to start regular direct flights from Beijing to New Delhi in late March.
When answering a question concerning an aborted trip of four Republic of Korean legislators to China to listen to China's view on the revision of a law on ethnic Koreans living overseas, Sun explained that the mission was not necessary since China had already made its stance clear though diplomatic channels.
``Ethic Koreans in China are Chinese citizens,'' said Sun. ``We hope that the Republic of Korea will correctly handle related issues.''
The spokesman said that both the Chinese and ROK governments have paid close attention to the issue that some ethnic Koreans in Northeast China have been cheated when working in the Republic of Korea.
He added the two countries have been working to provide more job opportunities in the Republic of Korea for Chinese.
Concerning the US plan to send troops to a number of Central Asian countries, Sun said China has consistently paid close attention to the development of the situation in Central Asia.
China has noticed that the US has repeatedly said it does not seek long-term military presence in Central Asia, said Sun.
``The maintenance of long-term stable development is not only in the fundamental interests of the region and neighbouring countries but also conducive to world peace and stability,'' said Sun.
(China Daily Shao Zongwei)
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