President Ben Ali met with Minister Tang. During the meeting, Tang conveyed a message from President Jiang Zemin reiterating that China attaches importance to developing the friendly cooperative relations with Tunisia and is ready to work together with Tunisia in further promoting to a new stage the vigorous and long stable friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries. President Ben Ali asked Tang to convey his cordial greetings to President Jiang. He said, China and Tunisia enjoy good bilateral relations and he is thankful to the Chinese Government for its support to the economic construction of Tunisia over the years. Tunisia is greatly admired at the domestic and foreign policies upheld by the Chinese leaders and the great achievements scored by China in its economy and social development.
China is a great country and the Chinese people, a great people.
Tunisia is ready to further develop the friendly relations and cooperation with China. Minister Tang said, China admires the principles of peace, concord and consultations adhered by Tunisia in dealing with foreign relations and is gratified with the remarkable achievements made by Tunisia in maintaining social stability and economic development. He expressed the hope to develop a relationship with Tunisia of facing the future, sincerity and friendship, unity and cooperation. China is ready to strengthen consultations and make concerted efforts with Tunisia, which is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in protecting the rights and interests of the developing countries. Tang stated that the Chinese Government attaches great importance to protect the human rights of the Chinese people.