On the afternoon of July 4, 2003, President Hu Jintao met with Vanuatu Prime Minister Nipake Edward Natapei at the Great Hall of the People. The two sides held friendly talks.

Hu pointed to the continuous development of bilateral relations in the more than 20 years of bilateral diplomatic ties, the positive achievements in bilateral cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, culture, education and health, and the establishment of relations between political parties of the two sides. Noting that both China and Vanuatu were developing countries in the Asian-Pacific region, Hu pointed out that the consolidation and development of bilateral long-term and steady friendship and cooperation conformed to the fundamental and long-term interests of the two peoples. China values friendship with Vanuatu, and will, on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, work with Vanuatu to raise bilateral relations to a new high. Hu also elaborated on China's principled stance on the Taiwan question, and expressed his appreciation for the Vanuatu government's adherence to the One China policy.

Natapei thanked Hu for the meeting and spoke highly of the development of bilateral relations. He mentioned China's precious support to Vanuatu in his country's struggle for independence and its current economic and social development. The Vanuatu people have always viewed China as their best friend. Vanuatu would continue to abide firmly by the One China policy and continuously expand bilateral friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation.