Leaders share views and hopes
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-05-26 22:53

Premier Wen Jiabao Wednesday met with the presidents of the World Bank, Brazil, Tanzania, and the prime minister of Bangladesh, all attending the Shanghai Conference on Scaling up Poverty Reduction.

As developing nations, China, Brazil, Tanzania and Bangladesh all are faced with the same tasks of developing their economies and eliminating poverty, Wen said. They should strengthen exchange and co-operation in economic fields.

The three foreign national leaders all praised China's achievements in poverty reduction, and expressed the desire to study and emulate China's successful experiences.

China will work with Brazil to consolidate guiding principles on bilateral ties and push them to a new high, Wen said in a meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Echoing Wen's view, Lula said his visit to China has seen positive developments, reflecting common aspirations for the two nations in their strategic relationship.

When meeting Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa, Wen said the Chinese Government will continue mutual co-operation in agriculture, medical and infrastructure fields, provide aid to Tanzania as well encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in the African country.

Mkapa said the Tanzanian Government is glad to explore new ways to push forward the relationship with China under the framework of the Sino-African Co-operation Forum.

To enhance its relationship with Bangladesh, Wen suggested the two nations should conduct more high-level exchanges, enlarge trade and economic mutual co-operation and push forward regional co-operation.

In return, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia said her country wishes to further co-operate with China in all fields.

Wen expressed gratitude to the three leaders who reiterated their firm stance of one-China policy as well as their support of China's principles on human rights.

Chinese Government has positively backed up the holding of international meeting on poverty reduction, Wen told the World Bank President James Wolfensohn, adding that the international community should sum up experiences learned from developing countries to reduce poverty worldwide.

The Chinese Government will continue co-operation with the bank and contribute efforts to common development across the globe, he said.

Wolfensohn said the Work Bank thinks highly of China's achievements in alleviating poverty and approved of the choice of holding the conference in Shanghai.