China Sends Congratulatory Message on Anniversary of Ties with Georgia

Chinese President Jiang Zemin sent a congratulatory message to his Georgian counterpart Sunday commemorating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

"The friendship between Georgia and China has a long history," said Jiang in his telegram to Eduard Shevardnadze, president of Georgia.

"Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 10 years ago, the two countries have built up good relations of mutual respect, equal treatment and friendly cooperation on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and other universally recognized norms governing international relations," Jiang said.

Jiang also praised the fruitful achievements made in the economic, scientific, cultural and educational cooperation between the two sides.

The Chinese government highly appreciates Georgia's firm stance on the Taiwan issue, and in return, China values and will continue to support the effort of Georgia in safeguarding national independence and maintaining sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Jiang.

Jiang finally expressed his hope that the friendly relations and cooperation between China and Georgia will develop further in the new century.

Shevardnadze sent his greetings in April ahead of the anniversary. In the message, he said Georgia attaches great importance to developing bilateral cooperation with China in the political, economic and cultural fields.

"After independence, Georgia has got more and more new friends, among whom China offered and is offering valuable support to Georgia in every state-building period, which was more noteworthy in the past 10 years when Georgia has had the hardest time and in the most difficult areas," he said.

The Georgian president expressed profound gratitude to China for the economic and humanitarian aid it has provided to his country, which he described as "priceless."

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and his Georgian counterpart, Iraklii Menagarichvili, also exchanged greetings on the occasion.

( June 10, 2002)