Visiting Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao said Monday in New York that China will further cooperate with the United States in fighting terrorism.
Hu made the statement when visiting the Ground Zero in lower Manhattan, the site of the World Trade Center twin towers destroyed in the September 11 terrorist attacks.
The September 11 incident shows again that terrorism has become a common threat to the world, and the international community should strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism, he said.
Since September 11, Hu said, China and the United States have had sound cooperation in the fight against terrorism and China is ready to continue such cooperation with the United States on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit.
Hu said that he admired the tremendous achievements the United States had scored in the rescue and reconstruction efforts on the site, and hoped the New York City would have a better future.
More Regional Cooperation with US
Hu, in his meeting with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said that the exchanges and cooperation between Chinese regions and New York City are an important part of Sino-US relations, and such exchanges and cooperation are mutually beneficial.
Hu said that since taking office on January 1, 2002, the mayor has made great progress in healing the wounds left by the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York City and in revitalizing the city's economy.
The September 11 incident shows again that terrorism has become a common threat to the world, and the international community should step up cooperation in fighting terrorism, the Chinese vice-president said.
Also on Monday, Hu met with Governor George Pataki of New York State and Governor James McGreevey of New Jersey State. The Chinese vice-president expressed his thanks to the two governors for their support to the development of Sino-US relations, and voiced his hope that greater achievements will be made in the exchanges and cooperation between the two US states and China in all fields.
In return, the two governors said that the development of friendly cooperation between the United States and China is in keeping with the interests of the people of the two countries, and they are looking forward to more effective cooperation with relevant Chinese provinces in such fields as economy and trade, culture and education.
Earlier, Hu visited the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and said that China attached great importance to the role played by NYSE in the international financial market.
More than 20 Chinese companies are listed with the New York Stock Exchange, Hu said, voicing his belief that relevant Chinese financial institutions and enterprises will have closer cooperation with NYSE.
Hu arrived in New York on Sunday from Hawaii. Upon his arrival at the airport in New York, Hu was greeted by Wang Yingfan, Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, and Zhang Hongxi, Chinese consul general in New York.
( April 30, 2002)
