Bolivia is ready to deepen friendly cooperation with China in all fields and continue expanding bilateral economic and trade relations, Bolivian President Evo Morales said on Tuesday.

 

Bolivia is keen to develop its relations with China and regards the country as its strategic partner, said Morales when meeting with Gu Xiulian, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, in the Bolivian capital of La Paz.

 

Bolivia welcomes Chinese enterprises' investments in the Andean country and promises to facilitate such investments and grant them legal guarantees, Morales added.

 

He also reaffirmed that Bolivia would continue to stick to its one-China stance.

 

For her part, Gu, who arrived in La Paz early on Tuesday, conveyed Morales greetings from President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao.

 

Gu said that since the two countries established diplomatic relations 21 years ago, the cooperative relations between them have grown smoothly in various fields.

 

China values its relations with Bolivia and is willing to make efforts to implement agreements reached between Chinese and Bolivian leaders, she added.

 

China will encourage and support Chinese enterprises which are economically strong and highly credible to invest in Bolivia, and it will continue to provide Bolivia with economic assistance, Gu said.

 

The meeting was followed by a ceremony during which an agreement was signed to promote economic and technological cooperation between China and Bolivia.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 22, 2006)