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The President of the People's Republic of China started his state visit to Estonia12.06.2002
Today the President of the People's Republic of China, Jiang Zemin, and Mrs Wang Yeping started their two-day-long state visit to Estonia.
In the afternoon the official welcoming ceremony took place in front of the Kadriorg Presidential Palace. The national anthems of China and Estonia were played, and the guard of honour was lined up. The Presidents were greeted by the members of the Estonian Government and the Chinese and Estonian delegations. The welcoming ceremony was followed by a tête-à-tête meeting of the Presidents, in the course of which also national gifts were exchanged.
At the subsequent meeting of the Presidents and delegations, both the bilateral relations between Estonia and China, and relations with other states and their alliances were under discussion.
As the Estonian Head of State noted with satisfaction, Estonia and China, despite the significant geographic distance between them, had close and friendly relations which were progressing steadily. And that applied not only to economy but also to culture and science, President Rüütel emphasized. Solid foundations for such relations have been laid by agreements concluded between the two countries on co-operation in the field of science and technology (1992), trade and economy (1992), on promotion and mutual protection of investments (1993), and equally on cultural, educational and scientific co-operation (1993), on avoidance of double taxation (1998) and an agreement on civil aviation (1999).
The Chinese Head of State alike voiced his contentment with our productive bilateral co-operation. At the meeting, the Presidents also talked about development of trade and transit between our two countries, which according to both Presidents was beneficial to both Estonia and China. China ranks fifth among Estonia`s trade partners. At the same time President Jiang Zemin emphasized that there were still many areas and possibilities enabling to strengthen contacts between our two countries and their inhabitants.
The President of China acknowledged Estonia's successes over the last decade and expressed the hope that, due to its successful development, Estonia shortly would become a member of the European Union. As the Chinese Head of State stressed, China understood and supported Estonian aspirations towards both the European Union and NATO.
The Presidents indicated unanimously that in addition to advancement of relations between our two countries and progress in relations with alliances of states, co-operation with third countries based on good-neighbourliness, first of all with Russia - the common neighbour of both China and Estonia - was no less important.
Subsequent to the meeting, the Chinese Foreign Minister, Tang Jiaxuan, and the Estonian Foreign Minister, Kristiina Ojuland, signed the Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Proceedings between the Republic of Estonia and the People's Republic of China.
In the evening at the House of Blackheads, the President of the Republic and Mrs Ingrid Rüütel will host a festive dinner in honour of the President of China, Jiang Zemin, and his spouse, Mrs Wang Yeping.
Tomorrow, the Chinese Head of State will meet with Prime Minister Siim Kallas, Chairman of the Riigikogu Toomas Savi and Ex-President Lennart Meri.
Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, June 12, 2002
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