On the afternoon of June 18, 2003, President Hu Jintao held talks with Comoros President Azali Assoumani at the Great Hall of the People. They exchanged opinions on the further development of bilateral ties and international and regional issues of common concern.

Hu highly evaluated China-Comoros relations. He said that China was the first country to forge diplomatic links with Comoros after it gained independence. He added that bilateral relations had developed smoothly over the past 28 years based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, saying that the two sides had continuously enhanced politically mutual trust, achieved good results in economic, cultural and health cooperation and achieved good cooperation in international affairs. We thank the Comoros government for its long-term adherence to the One China policy and support of China’s reunification cause. Hu noted that China respected the route of development that Comoros had chosen and supported its efforts to safeguard independence and sovereignty and develop its national economy. President Hu said that China was ready to work jointly with Comoros to further explore new fields and methods of bilateral cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, to steadily push forward the development of bilateral friendly and cooperative relations between China and the Comoros in the new century.

Azali said that the Chinese people had always stood by the Comoros people since the country became independent. He said that bilateral exchanges and cooperation in political, economic and many other fields had developed continuously, the selfless support offered by the Chinese government and the excellent work done by the Chinese medical team in Comoros had gained admiration, respect and gratitude of the Comoros people. He added that Comoros was ready to carry on the friendly cooperative relations with China the great country.

On the domestic situation of their countries, President Hu congratulated Comoros’ success on ethnic reconciliation and its presidential election. He expressed his appreciation on Comoro’s pursuit of an independent foreign policy featuring independence and good-neighborliness. Hu also thanked the Comoros government and people for their sympathy, understanding and support extended to China during the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic.

Azali briefed Hu on Comoros’ economic and social development. He also praised the Chinese government for its arduous efforts to successfully bring the SARS epidemic under control.

On the current situation in Africa, Hu said that owing to historical and practical reasons, conflicts were still going on in some areas of Africa, and many African countries were still facing economic difficulties. However, Hu acknowledged, the pursuit of peace, stability and development had become the mainstream in the evolution of African situation in recent years. Hu said China supported African countries establishing the African Union and formulating and implementing the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). China and African countries had jointly initiated and set up the China-Africa Cooperation Forum that aimed to strengthen political consultation and trade and economic cooperation, and to push forward China-Africa friendly cooperation.
Hu stressed that consolidating and strengthening unity and cooperation with all African countries including Comoros was a vital part of China's independent foreign policy of peace. He said that China would abide by the basic principles of "sincere friendship, equal treatment, unity and cooperation, common progress and looking forward to the future" in dealing with Africa and be dedicated to the long-term stable new partnership based on equality and mutual benefit.

Azali fully agreed with Hu's view on the situation of the African continent and his positive comments on Sino-African relations. Azali said China's stance of maintaining world peace and safeguarding the legitimate rights of the weak and small in international affairs had won high praise and active support from the people of Comoros and Africa as a whole. Noting that China had always helped and supported the development of African countries, he said the mechanism of China-Africa Cooperation Forum has inspiring new hopes for friendly cooperation between Africa and China.

After the talks, the two heads of state attended the signing ceremony of two documents concerning economic and technical cooperation between the two governments and on dispatching Chinese medical teams to Comoros.