China and Algeria should strengthen economic and trade cooperation within the bilateral partnership framework and expand such cooperation to cover oil and natural gas exploitation, infrastructure construction, telecommunications and human resources, a joint communique issued by the two countries said in Algiers Wednesday.  

The document, issued during Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit to the African country, said China and Algeria highly value the development of their friendly and cooperative ties since the two countries forged diplomatic relations 45 years ago.

It said the two countries will consolidate their strategic cooperative relations, continue the exchange of high-level visits and strengthen cooperation in various fields to push China-Algeria cooperation and friendship to a new high.

Algeria adheres to the stance that there is only one China in the world, and that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing China as a whole and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.

Algeria opposes any move by the Taiwan authorities, including the so-called referendum, that aim to change the status quo, aggravate tension across the Taiwan Straits, and lead to "Taiwan independence," the document said.

The two countries agreed that peace and development remain the two major themes of the present times and the common aspiration of the peoples of all countries. Both advocate that the international community should promote consultation and safeguard global cultural diversity and facilitate efforts by different civilizations and modes of development to conduct exchanges and learn from each other, the communique said.

Both countries stressed that the principles and tenets enshrined in the UN Charter should be observed and the authority of the UN and its pivotal role must be upheld in international affairs.

The communique expressed concern over the challenges posed by economic globalization to developing countries, advocating actions that would enable these countries to benefit from the globalization process.

The international community, especially the developed nations, should take active measures and shoulder their due obligations and responsibilities in the process, the document said.

The two countries expressed their willingness to enhance further consultation and cooperation and work together to safeguard the rights and interests of developing countries.

China and Algeria are resolutely opposed to terrorism in all manifestations and champion comprehensive measures that address both the symptoms and root causes of terrorism, the communique said, adding that international cooperation should be strengthened and the leading role of the UN brought into play in fighting terror.

The two sides are against linking terrorism to any specific nation or religion, the document said.

The Chinese side highly evaluates the role played Algeria and President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in promoting peace, stability and development in Africa, and supports African countries' efforts of seeking development through implementation of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). China also calls for a greater role of the African Union in promoting integration in the African continent.

Calling the China-Arab states cooperation forum and the China-Africa Cooperation Forum important platforms for consultation and cooperation, the two countries pledge to further promote the friendly relations between China and Arab and African countries.

On the Middle East, the two sides expressed support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the founding of a Palestinian state with full sovereignty.

The two countries urged respect for international law and UN Security Council resolutions in solving the Iraq problem and called for an early realization of "Iraqi people governing Iraq" and active participation by the international community in rebuilding post-war Iraq.

President Hu arrived Tuesday in Algeria, the last leg of his four-nation tour, which also took him to France, Egypt and Gabon.

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2004)