Chinese President Hu Jintao met in Beijing Thursday with visiting Slovenian Prime Minister Anton Rop.  

Hu said China and Slovenia have a traditional friendship. The bilateral relations have developed smoothly since the two countries established formal ties 11 years ago.

The friendly exchange of visits by state leaders of the two countries further pushed the bilateral relationship onto a healthy track, Hu said.

The two sides cooperated with each other not only on trade and economic issues but also in international organizations, he said.

The Chinese president said China highly values and thanks the Slovenian government for its sticking to the one-China policy and supporting China's reunification.

Hu said both China and Slovenia are striving for developing themselves on the most suitable roads. China is building a comprehensive well-off society while Slovenia is carrying out its economic reform.

Hu said the two countries could learn from each other on economic and social advancement.

China is willing to further promote the bilateral relations on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, Hu said.

Rop said he held fruitful talks with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao Wednesday. The two sides have reached extensive consensus on strengthening the bilateral political and economic ties, he said.

Slovenia is willing to make more efforts to expanding reciprocal relationship with China, Rop said.

Rop reiterated that his country would continue sticking to the one-China policy.

(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2003)