President Jiang praised Project Hope's active efforts and contributions to medical and health care in China, especially the medical center for children opened in Shanghai in June 1998.

After briefing Howe on the great progress his country had made in the reform and opening itself to the outside world over the past two decades since the late 1970s, particularly in nearly 13 elapsing years, President Jiang said he hoped that Project Hope would continue to work with Chinese partners.

Howe outlined to President Jiang how the charity developed and its cooperative work were done in China over the past 20 years.

Project Hope would further increase exchanges and cooperation with China in such fields as medical treatment, health and personnel training, Howe said.

Project Hope, which was founded in 1958, has gone vigorously in for cooperative projects in 30 countries around the world.

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2003)