China and Hungary announced Thursday in a joint declaration that they decided to build a "friendly and cooperative partnership" between the two countries.

The 11-point declaration, signed by visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Hungarian counterpart, Madl Ferenc, emphasized the need to further strengthen historical friendship between the two countries, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.

To this end, the two sides agreed to further maintain and strengthen the current friendly cooperative relationship in accordance with "the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit, respect of each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs," the declaration said.

The two countries will respect each other's development mode and interior and foreign policies, which are based on their own situations, the declaration said, adding that they will conduct constructive dialogues and exchanges.

China hopes that Hungary, a new member in the European Union (EU) and an important country in central and Eastern Europe, will play a constructive role in the regional and European affairs. Hungary will actively participate in efforts to build a relationship of all-around strategic partnership between China and the EU, the declaration said.

On the Taiwan issue, Hungary reiterated its adherence to the one-China policy and said it "will not have any official contacts with Taiwan authorities," according to the declaration.

The two countries expressed the willingness to enhance cooperation within the framework of the United Nations and other international organizations. They will "support UN reforms, safeguard the organization's authority and try to strengthen its role," the declaration said.

Both sides believe that trade cooperation, as an important part of bilateral relations, is a primary goal of their cooperation, the declaration said. China and Hungary are willing to enhance and upgrade their trade and to encourage their enterprises to develop and deepen cooperation in various fields.

The two countries will support normal exchanges between their citizens, and properly handle problems in this area based on "international obligations, current bilateral agreements and relevant domestic laws," the declaration said.

China and Hungary are willing to continue deepening their cooperation in the cultural, education, science and technology, health, sports, journalism and tourism sectors, the declaration said.

Condemning terrorism in all forms, the two sides called on the international community to strengthen coordination and cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

The two governments would encourage cooperation between their judicial, public security, interior, customs, financial supervision and other departments in the fight, and join the international community in annihilating the root of terrorism.

China and Hungary agreed that their foreign ministries would maintain consultation on major issues, such as "disarmament, arms control and prevention of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," the declaration said.

Calling on the international community to attach importance to environmental protection, the two countries expressed their willingness to "enhance cooperation in the fields of environmental protection, use of water resources and exploitation of recycled energy sources," the declaration said.

Also on Thursday, China and Hungary signed six cooperation documents to strengthen their economic ties and to boost bilateral trade.

Hungary is China's largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe.

Hu arrived in Budapest Thursday for a two-day state visit to Hungary, the first by a Chinese head of state since Hungary became a EU member in May.

Hungary is the second leg of Hu's four-nation tour following Poland. He will also visit Romania and Uzbekistan before attending a summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tashkent, scheduled to begin on June 17.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2004)