Chinese President Hu Jintao's upcoming overseas trip is of great
significance and will fully implement China's foreign policy,
Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Guchang said in Beijing Wednesday.
Liu said President Hu will pay state visits to Russia, Kazakhstan
and Mongolia and attend the leaders' informal dialogue meeting
between the North and the South in Evian, France from May 26 to
June 5.
During his tour, President Hu will also attend the third Summit
Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member nations to
be held in Moscow, and the celebrations of the tri-centennial
anniversary of the establishment of the city of St. Petersburg,
said Liu.
This Europe-Asia tour is President Hu's first overseas visit since
he assumed the presidency, Liu noted. The visit is not only linked
with bilateral ties and multilateral relations, but also with the
relationship with neighboring countries, the developed countries
and developing countries.
During his visits, President Hu will have extensive contacts with
foreign leaders and noted figures from all circles, have an
in-depth exchange of views with them on bilateral relations and
major international issues of common concern, and sign a series of
important documents of cooperation, said Liu.
Acknowledging that Russia will be President Hu's first stop, Liu
said that during the visit, he would hold talks with Russian
President Putin, and meet with the Russian premier and
parliamentary leaders.
Both sides will sign a joint statement afterwards and President Hu
is expected to deliver a speech at the state Duma of Russia, Liu
said, adding that the Chinese side hopes the visit would help
further advance Sino-Russian relations.
Liu said the third Summit Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) member nations to be held in Moscow on the 29th
of May is also very critical, and it will be the first time for
President Hu to attend the meeting.
The Moscow SCO Summit will adopt a joint statement, said Liu. A
series of documents concerning the organization's construction will
be approved and some important decisions will be reached during the
summit, all of which progress indicates that the SCO has marched
from the initial stage to the period of steady development, said
Liu.
Meanwhile, President Hu will attend the 300th anniversary
celebrations of St. Petersburg, said Liu. In order to convey the
friendship of the Chinese people to the people of the St.
Petersburg, the Chinese side has donated a Chinese garden named
"Garden of Friendship" as a congratulatory gift to the city for the
grand occasion.
The Chinese president was also invited by French President Jacques
Chirac to attend the leaders' informal dialogue meeting between the
North and the South in Evian, France on June 1, Liu noted. During
the stay in France, President Hu will hold an important bilateral
meeting with his French counterpart.
Liu said the international community is currently facing many
serious challenges, including weariness in recovering global
economy, the widening gaps between the North and the South, and the
difficulties facing the developing countries.
The Chinese side deems it is of positive significance to hold the
leaders' informal dialogue meeting in such circumstances, noted
Liu, which will be vital for deepening international cooperation
and seeking a joint solution to major development issues.
The Chinese side hopes to take this opportunity to have extensive
dialogues and exchanges of views with different countries on issues
concerning global development, so as to increase understanding,
expand common sense and promote cooperation, the vice-foreign
minister said.
During the dialogue meeting, President Hu is also expected to hold
talks with US President George W. Bush, which will be the first
meeting of the two leaders since the new Chinese leadership took
office, said Liu.
According to Liu, both China and the United States pay much
attention to the upcoming bilateral talks, which will not only
cover bilateral issues between the China and the United States, but
also confer on the current regional and international issues.
During the multilateral event, President Hu will also meet with
leaders from some other countries, Liu added.
After the France trip, President Hu will pay state visits to
Kazakhstan and Mongolia, noted Liu. The two countries are both
important neighboring countries to China, which attaches great
importance to the good neighborly and friendly ties with the
neighboring countries.
President Hu will hold talks with Kazakhstan President Nazarbayev
and Mongolian President Bagabandy, and meet with the premiers and
parliamentary leaders of the two countries, Liu said.
President Hu will sign a joint statement with Nazarbayev during the
visit to Kazakhstan. And during the visit in Mongolia, both sides
will sign a joint communique, and President Hu will deliver a
speech to the Mongolian parliament.
Liu said the Chinese side hopes the visit will further promote the
relations between China and the two neighboring countries.
As
the first overseas trip by the Chinese president since the
country's new central leadership took office, noted Liu, President
Hu's visit will further enhance the friendly and cooperative ties
between China and the relevant countries and will promote regional
and international cooperation.
(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2003)