Chinese President Jiang Zemin met Wednesday with a delegation from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) of the United States led by Senator Mary Landrieu and Congresswoman Anne Northup.

Jiang welcomed the US visitors most of whom were on their first visit to China, and he hoped that this visit would enable them to learn more about China.

Jiang said that the Chinese government has always paid great attention to the welfare of children and has made tremendous progress.

China has protected children's rights and interests in the past through legislation, law- enforcement and the building of the guarantee system. It has made efforts towards the adoption, nurture and settlement of orphans and disabled children, noted Jiang.

He went on to say that China has also take an active part in international exchanges and cooperation for the protection and growth of children, and has forged transnational adoption cooperation with 15 countries.

Jiang mentioned Sino-US cooperation in this regard and said that such cooperation has helped promote mutual understanding between the two nations.

Saying that transnational adoption is also of positive significance for world peace and development, Jiang said that he hopes that concerned departments and institutions in China and the US will strengthen their exchanges and cooperation and do a better job in this field.

Landrieu said she hoped the US and China, two great nations, will continue their friendly relations and their cooperation in the adoption of children, adding that joint cooperation in this regard is of positive significance to the development of bilateral relations.

Northup said China's adoption system has set an example to world countries. She hopes to further bilateral cooperation in children adoption, which, in her words, can be a bridge to friendship between the two nations.

(People's Daily January 17, 2002)