Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Yemeni Vice President Abdal-Rab Mansur Al-Hadii (L) in Sanaa, capital of Yemen, June 24, 2008. Xi started a two-day visit to Yemen on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said in Sanaa on Tuesday that China treasures its traditional friendship with Yemen.

Xi arrived in Sanaa on Tuesday afternoon for an official visit to Yemen. During talks with Vice-President Abdal-Rab Mansur Al-Hadii Tuesday evening, Xi put forward a number of suggestions for advancing the friendly cooperative relations between China and Yemen.

Firstly, he said the two countries should continue to support each other on issues concerning each other's major interest.

Secondly, he said the two countries should strengthen practical cooperation in such fields as infrastructure development, energy and telecommunications.

Thirdly, the two countries should strengthen exchanges and cooperation in such fields as education, public health and sports. Xi said China will continue to dispatch health and medical teams to Yemen.

Fourthly, Xi said the two countries should strengthen coordination in multilateral arena.

Al-Hadii fully agreed with Xi's suggestions on further strengthening bilateral cooperation, saying Yemen-China relations are based on mutual respect, mutual support, equality and mutual benefits.

Acknowledging the bilateral links have been growing smoothly, the vice president said Yemen is ready to work with China to continuously push forward Yemen-China relations.

On the Middle East issue, Xi said China has always held that all parties concerned should resolve disputes through political negotiations so as to realize peaceful coexistence of both the Arab and Israeli sides.

Xi said China is ready to continue to play a positive role in promoting the realization of peace and stability in the Middle East region.

Al-Hadii agreed with Xi's comment.

After the talks, Xi and Al-Hadii attended the signing ceremony of a number of cooperative agreements on economic and technological cooperation, public health and education.

(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2008)