Jiang made the remark Friday afternoon at a meeting with Jean-Claude Juncker, prime minister of Luxembourg, who is in Beijing for a work visit to China as a guest of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji.

Calling Juncker an old friend of the Chinese people, Jiang referred to Juncker's cordial and fruitful talks with Zhu Thursday, saying he believed that this visit will push forward China-Luxembourg relations.

Jiang noted that bilateral relations have made remarkable progress after 30 years of development, with closer bilateral exchanges, deepened mutual understanding and trust, and marked economic and trade achievements, especially in the metallurgical and financial fields.

Besides, the two countries have conducted active exchanges and cooperation in the spheres of culture, education and international affairs, Jiang added.

He went on to say that the development of bilateral ties in the past 30 years has been encouraging, and China is fully confident about the future development of bilateral cooperation.

Jiang stressed that China and Luxembourg share common interests in safeguarding peace and promoting development, and identical or similar views on many major international issues.

The two economies are complementary and there are broad prospects for bilateral cooperation, Jiang added.

Jiang briefed Juncker on China's progress in carrying out the strategy for developing its western region, as well as the conditions there.

He explained that the strategy was worked out three years ago, and drastic changes have taken place in China's western region since then in terms of infrastructure and culture. Meanwhile, religious activities are flourishing there.

Jiang welcomed Juncker to visit the west and to enable the people of Luxembourg to learn more about China.

Juncker said that, although Luxembourg and China are far apart geographically, bilateral relations are very close, and there have been close contacts and a deep friendship growing between the leaders and peoples of the two countries.

He praised China for its rapid economic growth and increasing international status.

He stressed that Luxembourg attaches great importance to bilateral relations, and will take an active part in the development of China's western region, so as to contribute to China's economic progress and the continuous development of bilateral ties.

Juncker said Luxembourg holds that different countries can enhance mutual understanding through exchanges and communication, even if they have different conditions.

So, said Juncker, Luxembourg hopes to strengthen its exchanges with China in various fields and further bilateral friendship.

He also said that his country will further strengthen cooperation with China within the World Trade Organization.

(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 2002)