Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), made the remark when meeting with visiting Mozambican Prime Minister Pascoal Manual Mocumbi, who arrived in Beijing Wednesday for an eight-day working visit.

Li congratulated Mocumbi on his visit to China, and said he is convinced this visit will improve the friendship and cooperation between the two peoples.

Li said he was deeply impressed by the Mozambican people's sincere friendship when he visited the country in 1997 and is glad to see that the friendly bilateral cooperation in each field has kept on improving.

Li noted that China will, as always, focus on improving its cooperation with Mozambique in areas such as agriculture, to promote the continued advancement of the traditional friendship between the two countries.

Li emphasized the long-standing friendship between China's NPC and the Mozambican Parliament, and said China will keep on working in this field.

Mocumbi, on his part, said the friendly cooperative relations have advanced greatly in the five years since Li visited Mozambique.

The Prime Minister thanked China for its long-time assistance and support and hoped to improve the bilateral cooperation in political, economic, technological and other fields through joint efforts.

Expressing his admiration for China's great achievements over the past years, Mocumbi said his country is currently engaged in economic and social development and hopes to learn from China's successful experience.

He added that he hoped to improve Mozambique's cooperation with China in various fields, especially agriculture and telecommunications, so as to benefit the Mozambican people.

(People's Daily October 12, 2002)