Chinese President Jiang Zemin said in Riga Tuesday that there are great potentials to be tapped in developing trade and economic cooperation between China and Latvia, and China is ready to participate in port construction in Latvia.
Jiang made the remarks during his meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins. Jiang arrived here Monday on a state visit, the first by a Chinese president since the two countries established full diplomatic relations in 1991.
Jiang told Berzins that he has seen during the current visit that Latvia has found its own way of development following 10 years of efforts. As a result, the economy of Latvia has grown rapidly and the living standards of Latvian people have been raised constantly.
Ties between China and Latvia have grown steadily and healthily, Jiang noted, adding that China is ready to enhance its relations with Latvia on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.
Jiang said Latvia is an important passage linking Europe and Asia, and Chinese companies are experienced in port engineering, and willing to participate in the construction of Latvian ports.
Jiang said China is developing its vast western areas, and it encourages foreign investment in infrastructure, ecological construction and resources development there. Latvian entrepreneurs are welcome to invest in China's western areas.
Berzins said Latvia appreciates China's stance that all countries, regardless of their sizes, should be equal. Latvia attaches great importance to China's international status and role, and has made it a policy priority to develop relations with China.
The prime minister said China is now the biggest trading partner of Latvia in Asia, and he hoped that China can upgrade cooperation in transit trade and transportation.
In a separate meeting with Latvian Chairman of Parliament Janis Straume Tuesday, Jiang said that to increase exchanges between parliaments of the two countries will help promote mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries.
(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2002)
