Chinese president meets Samoan Prime Minister

Chinese president Hu Jintao met on Wednesday with Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, who comes to visit China and attend the closing ceremony of the Beijing Paralympic Games, in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Hu welcomed Tuilaepa to the closing ceremony of the Beijing Paralympics and extended gratitude to the support given by the Samoan government and people to the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics.

Hu noted that the friendship between the two peoples was time-honored. Since the establishment of their diplomatic ties in 1975, the two countries have made fruitful cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, agriculture, sports, culture, education and health, as well as international affairs.

The Chinese president said the Sino-Samoan relations have entered into a new period of fast development and have set a good example for friendly cooperation between China and the Pacific island countries.

"China is willing to continue to make more tangible efforts to support Samoa's economic and social development, maintain high-level contacts and exchanges at all other levels with Samoa, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in all the fields, help Samoa improve the capacity of independent development and lift the traditional friendship with Samoa to a new level," Hu added.

Hu expressed gratitude to the Samoan government who made donations to China's relief work after a devastating earthquake hit southwest China's Sichuan Province in May, despite the fact that the government itself is not so wealthy.

Tuilaepa congratulated China on the complete success of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics. He said the bilateral relations have well developed since the diplomatic ties were established between the two countries more than 30 years ago.

Samoan people thanked China for providing valuable economic and technological support and assistance to Samoa, he added.

Recently, the two sides endorsed a series of agreements on the cooperation in the fields of tourism and infrastructure construction, said Tuilaepa.

Tuilaepa said that Samoa will continue to pursue the one-China policy.

Source: Xinhua