China, Colombia sign five co-operation deals
By Jiang Zhuqing (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-04-08 06:39

The rapid development of China's economy is not a threat, but rather an opportunity for co-operation with a huge market, said visiting Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Velez yesterday.

The two sides on Wednesday signed five agreements on plants and animals quarantine, information and telecommunications, film exhibition, economy and technology, said Uribe during a press conference at Colombia's Embassy in Beijing.

The signing of the two quarantine pacts would help the two nations conduct bilateral trade of plant and animal, said Minister Andres Felipe Arias Leiva, who is in charge of agriculture and rural development.

Colombia's delegation included high ranking officials from different departments, highlighting the importance of the visit, said Uribe, adding that there are also 144 entrepreneurs as well as 32 presidents of colleges and universities.

Uribe said his government attaches great importance to economic and trade co-operation with China, and welcomes more investment from China in petroleum, coal, textiles and irrigation.

China and Colombia enjoy sound co-operative relations, which will be enhanced by Uribe's China tour, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang at a regular press conference yesterday.

"The two countries have enjoyed a smooth development of bilateral ties in the past 25 years, with friendly co-operation that has grown steadily in various fields and sound co-operation maintained in international affairs," Qin said.

Uribe arrived in Beijing on Wednesday morning, kicking off his four-day state visit to China as the guest of President Hu Jintao.

During the talks between the two presidents on Wednesday, Hu said China and Colombia should expand exchanges in cultural, educational, scientific and technological fields and enhance co-operation on regional and international forums like the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, World Health Organization and the Organization of American States.

Yesterday, Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committe of the National People's Congress, and Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consulative Conference, also met with Uribe in Beijing.

(China Daily 04/08/2005 page2)

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