Visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin said Friday that China's friendship with Latin America will see continuous growth in the new century.

Jiang, who is on a three-day state visit to Chile, made the speech at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Chinese president said that though separated by the vast ocean and despite different historical backgrounds, social systems, cultural traditions and natural conditions, China and the countries in this region have many things in common in fighting for national independence and in building themselves.

Jiang highly commended the struggle of the Latin American people in safeguarding state sovereignty, defending national interests and opposing outside interference in the 20th century.

"The Latin America people have firmly fought against outside aggression, maintained 200-nautical marine rights, striven for new international political and economic rights and made contributions to world peace and development," he said.

He also spoke highly of the admirable achievements made by the Latin American people in maintaining stability, developing democracy and rejuvenating economy.

Jiang said his visit to the six Latin American countries starting from Chile is aimed to "strengthen cooperation, enhance trust, promote cooperation and pursue common development."

The Chinese president stated that China attaches importance to its friendly relations with Latin American countries and supports them in playing active roles in regional and global affairs.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Jiang declared that China will make concerted efforts with Latin American nations to promote long-term, stable, equal and mutually beneficial ties between the two sides in all fields.

To this end, Jiang said China and Latin America should work together in the following aspects:

-- Deepen mutual understanding and treat each other on an equal footing to develop friendship and mutual trust.

-- Increase consultations and mutual support in safeguarding their rights and interests at international levels.

-- Broaden economic cooperation and trade to promote common development based on mutual benefit and reciprocity.

-- Establish broad and integrated cooperative relations geared to the future from a long-term perspective.

On the international situation, Jiang said that the winding evolution of world multi-polarization, the constant deepening of economic globalization, and the dazzling development of science and technology, with information and life sciences as its core, have significantly influenced international political, economic and cultural relations and inspired a new drive toward human society's progress.

As "the developing countries are facing both opportunities to achieve greater development and challenges that require serious attention", Jiang proposed, China and Latin American countries should strengthen unity in establishing a new, fair and reasonable international political and economic order; increase consultation and intensify South-South cooperation in all fields; participate actively in the North-South dialogue to improve North-South relations; and work harder to realize the full potential of their own development capacities.

Over 300 people, including the Chilean government ministers, officials of the commission and the foreign diplomats in Santiago, were present on the occasion.

(Xinhua 04/07/2001)