Wu Bangguo (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress, shakes hands with Vanuatuan President Kalkot Mataskelekele during their meeting in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2007. (Xinhua Photo/Lan Hongguang)
BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) — China and Vanuatu on Tuesday vowed to expand their cooperation during Vanuatu president Kalkot Mataskelekele’s state visit to China.
“China would like to work with Vanuatu to increase high-level visits, expand the scope of cooperation and achieve more substantial results,” Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo said in a meeting with Mataskelekele Tuesday afternoon.
Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), reviewed China-Vanuatu ties since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in March 1982, saying the relationship has gone through various tests.
Vanuatu is a country in the southwest Pacific with a population of about 200,000.
Wu hailed the increased political mutual trust, active parliamentary intercommunication and closer people-to-people ties between the two countries.
As both are developing countries, China and Vanuatu enjoy extensive common interests and have many opportunities for cooperation, Wu said.
Mataskelekele appreciated China’s generous support to Vanuatu on its national independence and economic construction.
He said Vanuatu will adhere to the one-China policy and supports China’s reunification cause.
Earlier Tuesday, Mataskelekele also met with China’s chief justice Xiao Yang.
The six-day visit will also take Mataskelekele to northwest China’s Shaanxi Province and Shenzhen, an economically dynamic city in south China’s Guangdong Province.