The First Ministerial Meeting in the context of the Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination between the People’s Republic of China and the Andean Community was held on October 21, 2002 in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. Present were the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Tang Jiaxuan and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Colombia, Carolina Barco; the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Republic of Bolivia, Carlos Saavedra Bruno; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Peru, Allan Wagner Tizón; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Eduardo Mora Anda, and the Secretary General of the Andean Community, Guillermo Fernández de Soto.

In a cordial, friendly and pragmatic atmosphere, the Ministers discussed at length the development of links of friendship and cooperation between China and the Andean Community and its member countries, together with international and regional topics of common interest, on which there was broad agreement.

The two parties emerged satisfied with the positive results of the Meeting.

1. Both parties attach great importance to and value positively their friendly and cooperative relations. They consider as consistent with their fundamental interests the unceasing development of a lasting, stable and comprehensive relationship based on principles of mutual respect for territorial sovereignty and integrity, non-aggression, non-intervention in internal affairs, equality and mutual benefits and peaceful coexistence.

They agree to step up their political consultations and dialogues at different levels and to foster exchanges in all spheres and multiple dimensions in benefit of a growing understanding and mutual trust.

2. Both parties agree that a huge potential for cooperation exists between China and the Andean Community countries in the spheres of trade, investment, finances and science and technology and that this cooperation is conducive to the shared development of all parties.

Despite the parties being developing countries and with a view to recognizing the different levels of development, the Government of China commits itself to promote cooperation programs with the Andean Community.

The Governments of China and of the Andean Community countries encourage and support efforts by their competent agencies, as well as by national firms and enterprises, to increase their contacts and exchange information in a display of mutually beneficial cooperation.

Both parties are ready to identify projects for cooperation on and the exchange of new technologies, such as electronics and telecommunications, energy development, human resource training, infrastructure development, environmental conservation and agricultural development, among others.

3. Both parties will continue to actively undertake initiatives aimed at promoting exchanges and cooperation in the legal, cultural, education, journalistic, health and sports areas.

4. Both parties agree on the importance of strengthening their cooperation for the control of illegal drugs and related offenses and organized crime by reinforcing mechanisms for coordination, the control of asset laundering and drug trafficking and the prevention of their use to finance worldwide terrorism and criminal activities.

5. The Foreign Ministries of the Andean Community countries reaffirm the adherence of the Community and of its member countries to the one China policy -in other words, that there is a single China in the world, that the sole representative of all China is the People’s Republic of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory.

The Andean Community and its member countries support the Government and people of China in their effort to reunify their nation, ratify that they will neither establish nor develop any official relations or contacts with Taiwan and that they will not back Taiwan’s access to international organizations open to sovereign states only, all of which the Chinese party appreciates and recognizes.

6. The Chinese government reiterates its support for the efforts of the Andean Community member countries within the framework of their integration process. It further recognizes the Andean Community to be a privileged subregional spokesman and ratifies its intention to support and facilitate its positioning within the Pacific Basin through a comprehensive strategy developed jointly.

7. Both parties wish to reiterate their commitment to the principles and aims established in the United Nations Charter, basically to those related to the promotion of friendly relations among countries and the promotion of international cooperation for resolving international economic, social and cultural problems peacefully.

8. Both parties state their respect for each country’s unique history, culture, social system and development model and express their desire to cooperate in the effort to create a world that is more just, peaceful and safe.

In this connection, the two parties are willing to continue reinforcing their consultations and cooperation with each other in the international sphere.

9. Both parties, concerned over the new challenges that economic globalization has raised for the many developing countries, are willing to share experiences, coordinate positions and collaborate actively in the area of development, with a view to eliminating poverty, achieving sustained economic growth and promoting a sustainable development that will allow them to assume a positive role in the world economic system.

10. Both parties agree to work intensely on the efforts to follow up this Meeting of Foreign Ministers and have confirmed that they will hold a consultation meeting of Vice-Ministers every two years with regard to their political relations, cooperation on economic and trade, scientific and technological matters, cultural exchanges and international and regional issues of great importance, without neglecting consultations at other levels at irregular intervals and meetings of the Foreign Ministers on occasion as deemed necessary by the two parties.

Both parties have agreed to hold the next consultation meeting at the Vice-ministerial level in Beijing in the second half of 2004.