Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping's visits to Bangladesh, Laos, New Zealand and Australia had contributed to promoting friendship, mutual trust and cooperation between China and these countries, a senior Chinese official said Thursday.
Xi paid official visits to the four nations between June 14 and June 24, meeting with leaders and exchanging views on a wide range of issues, witnessing the signing of a series of bilateral cooperation agreements, addressing business forums and attending cultural activities.
"The visits boasted great achievements. It was a successful trip of friendship and substantial cooperation," said China's Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun, who accompanied Xi for the tour.
During the 11-day visits, Xi visited seven cities in four nations and attended more than 50 official activities, which were reported abundantly and positively by the media of the host countries and international community, Zhang said.
Closer friendship, mutual trust
Senior officials and the public, especially the business world, warmly welcomed Xi's visits. The leaders reached important agreement in consolidating and enhancing bilateral relations, Zhang said.
It was widely believed the tour had great significance for promoting friendship and mutual trust and expanding pragmatic cooperation, he said.
Zhang noted large-scale economic and trade activities held during Xi's visits aroused widespread interests in these countries.
Xi pledged to establish a closer comprehensive partnership of cooperation between China and Bangladesh and to strengthen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with Laos.
In New Zealand, Xi urged both sides to develop the potential for economic cooperation while making full use of the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and to make trade and investment more balanced, smooth and comprehensive.
In his visit to Australia, Xi said China was willing to promote bilateral political and strategic mutual trust, and dedicate to a long-term stable and comprehensive cooperative partnership.
Xi also introduced China's views on climate change, the Korean peninsula situation, and regional peace, stability and cooperation.
"His introduction has increased all sides' understanding of China's stance on the key issues," Zhang said.