Chinese President Congratulates Gusmao

Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Wednesday congratulated Xanana Gusmao on his victory in the first yet presidential election in East Timor.

Jiang said that on behalf of the Chinese government, people and himself, he extended sincere congratulations and best wishes to Gusmao on his victory.

Gusmao's landslide triumph in the election is of great significance in pushing ahead the process of independence in East Timor, Jiang said.

He expressed his confidence that East Timor could in time achieve its goal of establishing an independent state, with the common effort of the people of East Timor and the world community.

The Chinese president said that he was pleased to have seen ties between China and East Timor, friendly and close neighbors, advance smoothly in recent years. Cooperation in various fields, including politics, trade and economy, had made marked headway.

Jiang pledged that in the future, he would work together with Gusmao to make an unremitting effort in pushing forward the good- neighborly and friendly ties between China and East Timor.

The Independent Election Commission of East Timor on Wednesday announced in its capital of Dili that Gusmao netted 82.69 percent of the total valid votes and his sole challenger Francisco Xavier do Amaral garnered 17.31 percent.

East Timor, which sits between Australia and Indonesia, will formally declare independence on May 20 from centuries of colonial rule.

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2002)