Joint Statement Between The Government of the People's Republic of China and The Government of the Independent State of Samoa, May 9, 2005

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At the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi of the Independent State of Samoa paid an official visit to the People's Republic of China from 8 to 15 May 2005. Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi had an in-depth exchange of views on the bilateral relations and other issues of common concern in a cordial and friendly atmosphere and reached broad consensus.

1. Both sides agreed that promoting long-term, steady and all-round development of the bilateral relations on the basis of the five principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence serves the fundamental and long-term interests of both countries. Both sides reaffirmed their strict adherence to the Joint Communiqué Between the People's Republic of China and the Independent State of Samoa on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and expressed their belief that the consensus reached in this Joint Statement will serve as a foundation and driving force for further cooperation between the two governments.

2. The year 2005 marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Samoa. Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the steady development of the bilateral relations for the past 30 years and their willingness to maintain high-level contacts and expand governmental, inter-parliamentary and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in all fields and at all levels.

The two countries will host celebrations of the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year and are ready to take this opportunity to further promote the traditional friendship between China and Samoa.

3. Both sides believed that they should further tap their complementary advantages and expand economic cooperation and trade. Both sides stand ready to encourage and support enterprises of the two countries to step up contacts, enhance mutual understanding and carry out mutually beneficial cooperation in various forms so as to promote the steady growth of their economic and trade relations. The Samoan Government expressed its admiration and appreciation of the remarkable achievements China has attained in its reforms and 'opening-up' and recognized China's full Market Economy status.

Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the agreement on eco-tech cooperation and other agreements signed during the visit. The Chinese side reaffirmed its support for the Samoan Government's efforts to promote economic development and improve its people's living standards and expressed China's willingness to continue to provide eco-tech assistance to Samoa within its capacity.

The two sides will adopt more proactive measures to further increase bilateral exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, tourism, health, human resources development and other fields.

4. The Samoan side reiterated its one China policy and that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. The Samoan side expressed its opposition to any attempt to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan", "Taiwan independence" and Taiwan's accession into any international or regional organization which only sovereign states can join. The Samoan side expressed its commitment to refrain from developing official relations or establishing official contacts with Taiwan. The Samoan side supported all the efforts China exerted for safeguarding state sovereignty and territorial integrity, including the prerogative of the Government of China to make the Anti-Secession Law adopted by the Third Session of the Tenth National People's Congress of China and expressed its hope for the early reunification of China.

The Chinese side highly appreciated the Samoan side's unequivocal position on the Taiwan question. The Chinese side reaffirmed its respect and support for Samoa's active efforts to safeguard national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and expressed its hope for Samoa to achieve social stability, ethnic amity and economic development at home and make positive contributions to safeguarding and promoting stability and prosperity in the South Pacific region.

5. Both sides reiterated the important role of the UN in safeguarding world peace and stability and promoting common development and expressed their willingness to communicate and cooperate with each other in the process of the UN reform. Both sides agreed that countries, big or small, rich or poor, strong or weak, are all equal members of the international community. The two sides will further strengthen their coordination and cooperation in the World Health Organization, the Pacific Islands Forum and its Parliament Assembly, the South Pacific Tourism Organization and other international and regional organizations for safeguarding regional stability and promoting common development.

Original source: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjdt/2649/t194788.htm

Other Joint Communiqués:

China-Japan | China-Russian | China-Sri Lanka | China-India-Russia | China-Mozambique | China-South Africa | China-Zambia | China-Japan-Korea | China-Benin | China-Montenegro | China-Uganda | China-Republic of Congo | China-Ghana | China-Georgia | China-Greece | China-Pakistan | China-Malaysia | China-Kazakhstan | China-Samoa | China-Portugal | China-E.U. | China-Vietnam | China-Armenia | China-Brunei Darussalam | China-Albania | China-Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) | China-Fiji Islands | China-Papua New Guinea | China-Moldova | China-Iran | China-Oman | China-United Kingdom |