President Hu's four-nation tour fruitful
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-11-19 17:12

Chinese President Hu Jintao's four-nation tour and participation in the 13th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting have achieved "fruitful results," Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Saturday.

During the 12-day tour beginning on Nov. 8, which took him to Britain, Germany, Spain and South Korea, President Hu took part in more than 70 events, said Li, who accompanied the Chinese president throughout the tour.

The foreign minister said China and the four countries have broadened consensus and promoted mutual trust, thus strengthening their relations.

President Hu and leaders of the four countries exchanged in-depth views on furthering bilateral relations under the current international situation and reached broader consensus, he said.

China and Britain agreed to enhance political dialogues and cooperate in bilateral and international affairs, so as to bring their all-around strategic partnership to a new high, Li added.

He said German leaders expressed the willingness to actively boost cooperation between Germany and China and enrich their partnership, which has a responsibility for the world.

Sino-Spanish ties have entered a new stage as the two sides issued a joint communique -- the first of its kind since they established diplomatic relations -- which announced the establishment of an all-around strategic partnership, Li said.

Leaders of the three major European Union (EU) countries also reiterated that they will consolidate and advance the all-around strategic partnership between Europe and China, he said.

The foreign minister said China and South Korea stressed that they will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, thus promoting the development of the all-around partnership of cooperation between the two close neighbors.

Li said the tour has also deepened the existing cooperation, explored new fields of cooperation, and injected new vitality into the all-around development of bilateral relations between China and the four countries.

All the four countries are main trading partners of China, he said, adding that the trade volume between China and the four nations accounted for nearly 15 percent of China's total trade volume last year.

It is of great significance for China's modernization to broaden trade and economic cooperation with the four countries, said Li.

During his visit, President Hu said the continuous, rapid economic growth of China has created broad prospects for the trade and economic cooperation between China and the four countries, he said.

The two sides should strengthen complementarity of advantages, facilitate two-way trade and investment, broaden the fields of technological cooperation, and properly handle issues in the rapid development of bilateral trade and economic cooperation so as to achieve mutually beneficial and win-win results, he said.

South Korea also announced its recognition of China's market economy status, Li noted.

China and the four countries signed a total of 35 documents for their cooperation in such fields as politics, culture, justice, finance, aviation, railway system, and science and technology, which showed that bilateral cooperation has broad prospects.

Hu has briefed the APEC leaders on China's positions on promoting the world's economic balance and stability, as well as sustainable growth, the foreign minister said. He added that President Hu also expressed China's positions on cooperation among and development in APEC members.

Hu has called on the international community to work together to solve the global imbalance of economic development so as to deepen and expand economic and technological cooperation.

As to the bird flu that has flared up around the world, Hu told the leaders that China pays great attention to the prevention and control of bird flu and has taken a series of positive measures to curb the avian influenza.

Hu, who has proposed holding an APEC symposium on containing the new contagious disease in Beijing next April, also called on the APEC members to strengthen their cooperation and communication to curb the spreading of the disease.

The president also expounded China's energy strategy, noting that China is not only a major energy consumer, but also a major energy producer.

He called on all the countries to take joint efforts to intensify energy development, deepen energy cooperation, increase energy efficiency, and facilitate the development and use of new energy sources.

The APEC leaders have paid great attention to Hu's ideas and suggestions, which have also been fully reflected in the statement issued by APEC leaders on Saturday, Li said, adding that all the sides have praised China's active efforts and transparency in curbing the spread of the bird flu.

During the visit, Hu also briefed leaders of the countries on China's development, noting that China will firmly adhere to the road of peaceful development and continue to take economic development as the central task and top priority and focus its effort on development.

China's development is peaceful, open and cooperative, Hu said, adding that the country has always been a strong force in maintaining world peace and promoting common development.

The leaders have spoken highly of China's economic and social achievements, as well as China's positive role in world affairs, Li said.

It is a general view among the leaders that China's developments not a threat but an opportunity, and is conducive to world peace and development, said the Chinese foreign minister.