President Jiang Zemin said Tuesday that China has always attached great importance to its cooperation with international meteorologists, especially the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

It is commonly held that international cooperation is required in the meteorological field and the China Meteorological Administration has maintained long-term contacts with the WMO, Jiang said at a meeting here with WMO Secretary-General Godwin O.P. Obasi.

Jiang called Obasi an "old friend" of the Chinese people and spoke highly of his contribution to the promotion of world meteorological and hydrological cooperation, especially to the capability building of meteorological departments of developing countries, upgrading of meteorological service to global sustainable social and economic development, and the protection of the global climate and environment.

The president underscored Obasi's efforts in assisting developing countries with meteorological and hydrological development.

He also expressed appreciation for Obasi's outstanding performance since he took office in 1984 and thanked him for his long-term concern and support to China in this regard.

Obasi said that since 1971, when the legitimate seat of the People's Republic of China was restored in the United Nations, China has played an active role in the WMO.

He thanked Jiang for China's efforts in the meteorological field and expressed the hope that cooperation between WMO and China would be reinforced.

Obasi is visiting China at the invitation of the China Meteorological Administration.

(People’s Daily 09/14/2000)