Chinese Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu met separately on Thursday with Uganda President Yoweri Museveni, Madagascar Deputy Prime Minister Zaza Manitranja Ramandimbiarison, Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Chino Tadao, and Mark Malloch Brown, administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Extending his warm welcome to Museveni, Hui said China and Uganda had a long-term traditional friendship, and a common task to develop national economy and improve people's lives. The Chinese side is ready to join hands with Uganda to further reinforce the friendship and enhance economic cooperation.

Museveni said Uganda is satisfied with the growth of bilateral ties, hoping the companies of the two sides could enhance cooperation.

When meeting with the Madagascar guest, Hui, acknowledging the wide-ranging consensus reached by both sides during the Madagascar president's China visit not long before, said that the Chinese government encouraged local companies to invest in Madagascar. He also voiced his belief the Sino-Madagascar relations will achieve new progress with joint efforts.

Ramandimbiarison said China has made contributions to the world with its own economic and social progress. The Madagascar government attaches much importance to bilateral ties and appreciated the Chinese side's support for its economic development and anti-poverty campaign.

In his talks with Chino Tadao, Hui said the ADB has played a positive role in providing loans and technical support to China's economy, especially in terms of infrastructure construction. The Chinese government thought highly of ADB's valuable advices, and is ready to further cooperation with the ADB.

Chino Tadao also expressed appreciation for the Chinese government's donation to the "Asian Development Fund", and its resolve in setting up a "China Special Fund for Poverty Reduction and Regional Cooperation" with the ADB.

Recalling the wide-ranging and highly effective cooperation with the UNDP since 1979, Hui said the UNDP has contributed positively to China's reform and opening-up. He also expressed his hope that the UNDP could play a bigger role in collecting advanced experience and expanding international cooperation and information exchange.

Brown said China has make remarkable achievements in poverty reduction, and the UNDP will continue its cooperation with China to push forward poverty reduction work.

Hui and Brown also attended the signing ceremony of the memorandum for the project of the International Center for Poverty Reduction in China.

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2004)