China is ready to push forward long-term and good-neighborly
friendship with Bhutan, said State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan in
Beijing Wednesday.
Tang said in a meeting with Bhutanese Minister of Foreign
Affairs Khandu Wangchuk that although China and Bhutan have not
established diplomatic ties, the two nations always enjoy
harmonious relations with mutual respect and equal treatment.
"China appreciates Bhutan's adherence to one-China policy in the
past years," Tang said, noting that China is ready to build and
push forward the friendly and cooperative relations with Bhutan in
line with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
Tang said the Chinese government is wiling to resolve the
boundary issue with Bhutan at an early date through friendly
consultations in the spirit of mutual understanding and
accommodation.
"We hope the China-Bhutan boundary will become a bridge between
the two nations to promote good-neighborly cooperation," he
noted.
Wangchuk said Bhutan values the relations with China, always
sticks to the one-China policy, and will continue conducting
friendly exchanges and cooperation with China.
Wangchuk, who was here for the 18th talks on China-Bhutan
boundary issue at the invitation of Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing,
said Bhutan is ready to make efforts for the early resolution of
the boundary issue in the spirit of mutual understanding and
accommodation.
Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei held the boundary issue talks
with Wangchuk on Wednesday morning, and Li Zhaoxing met with
Wangchuk later Wednesday.
(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2006)