Slovenian President Janez Drnovsek and Prime Minister Janez Jansa held separate talks with State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan on Thursday, with both sides pledging to further boost bilateral ties.

 

During his meeting with Drnovsek, Tang said China is ready to intensify high-level visits with Slovenia, strengthen exchanges between parliaments and parties, broaden bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, tourism, science and technology, deepen exchanges in culture and education, and push bilateral ties forward for further and comprehensive development.

 

Over the past 14 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Tang said, both sides have been devoted to the development of bilateral friendship, understanding of each other's major concerns, and have made remarkable achievements in cooperation in politics, economy, trade, science, technology, education and culture.

 

Tang expressed his appreciation for the good-neighborly policies Slovenia pursues and the important role it plays in regional affairs, stressing that all countries, regardless of their size, strength and wealth, are equal and can contribute to world peace, stability and development.

 

Drnovsek said his country is keen to develop its ties with China, and is willing to promote the bilateral cooperative friendship in various fields.

 

Slovenia is ready to develop communication and cooperation with China within the frame of Sino-European relationship, he said, adding that the strengthening of the Sino-European ties is conducive to the establishment of a harmonious world.

 

In his meeting with Jansa, Tang briefed the Slovenian prime minister on how China implements the concept of scientific development and tries to establish a harmonious society, stressing that China will unswervingly keep to the path of peaceful development.

 

For his part, Jansa said Slovenia and China have a solid foundation for their political relationship and a huge potential for economic and trade cooperation since there are no outstanding issues between the two sides.

 

On Thursday, Tang, who arrived in the Slovenian capital a day earlier, also held a separate meeting with Slovenia's Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel.

 

Slovenia is the fourth stop of Tang's eight-day official visit, which has taken him to Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro, and will further take him to Croatia.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2006)