Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met in Beijing Monday with a delegation from the Colombian Conservative Party, led by its president Carlos Holguin.  

Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries 24 years ago, Jia said, China and Colombia had expanded exchanges and cooperation in political, economic, cultural, scientific and technological fields.

The two countries also cooperated with each other in international and regional organizations, said Jia, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) Central Committee.

China valued Colombia's stand on the one-China policy, Jia said.

China also attached great importance to developing cooperation with Colombia, he said.

Jia said the CPC was willing to cultivate ties with political parties in Colombia, including the Conservative Party, in order to deepen understanding and friendship between the two sides.

Holguin said he was very impressed with China's great achievements in the reform and opening-up over the past two decades.

He said his party cherished the relationship with the CPC and was willing to strengthen the ties between the two parties.

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2004)