President Hu Jintao will attend the dialogue between the G8 and developing countries and pay state visits to Italy and Portugal. During the briefing held by the foreign ministry for Chinese and foreign media on July 2, Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei and Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Hongbo introduced the upcoming visits of President Hu.
To promote positive results of dialogue between the G8 and developing countries
He Yafei first of all introduced the background of the G8-developing countries dialogue, saying that the international financial crisis is still spreading and the world economy as a whole has plunged into recession. Despite of some positive signs recently, the prospects of recovery remain uncertain. It is the biggest concern of the international community how to recover the economy at the earliest date. In addition, we also face such serious global problems as energy security, food security and climate change. The G20 has held two summits in Washington and London respectively and will hold the third one in Pittsburgh, the US in September this year. Under such a situation, there is special interest in what role the G8-developing countries dialogue this year will play to cope with the crisis and what positive signals it will send out.
Concerning the topics of the upcoming dialogue, he said that according to the schedule, participants will fully exchange opinions on the biggest concerns of the international community, including the financial crisis, climate change, energy security, food security, international trade, development, especially the development of Africa, try to reach consensus and announce the consensus in the form of leaders' declaration.
He said that President Hu will mainly participate in the following activities: attending the group meeting of leaders of five developing countries, i.e. China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico, the joint press conference and the working dinner of the five-country leaders on July 8; attending the G8 plus the five developing countries plus Egypt (8+5+Egypt) leaders' dialogue, 8+5+Egypt leaders' luncheon, 8+5+Egypt) leaders' meeting with youth representatives of the 14 countries, the special meeting on trade, the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) summit and the dinner hosted by Italian President for the leaders of all participating countries and international organizations on July 9; and attending the special meeting on food security on July10. Furthermore, President Hu will also hold bilateral meetings with leaders of relevant countries to exchange opinions on the bilateral relations and the international and regional issues of common concern.
He pointed out that China has taken active part in the G8-developing countries dialogues over the past several years and kept close communications and consultations with related parties during the preparations for this year's dialogue. We are willing to join hands with all parties concerned to achieve major outcomes in the following aspects:
First, to send out strong signals of jointly coping with the financial crisis and promote the early recovery of world economy on the basis of the two G20 summits;
Second, to push forward the dialogue and cooperation between the G8 and the developing countries and promote the establishment of a new type of North-South partnership featured by equality, mutual benefit and win-win;
Third, to urge the international community to pay attention to the impact of financial crisis on the development and food security issues, take actions to solve the real difficulties of the developing countries, especially the African countries;
Fourth, to make coordination on climate change and the WTO Doha-round negotiations, reach consensus on the Copenhagen conference to be held at the end of this year and inject dynamism to make breakthroughs of Doha-round negotiations.
To deepen the China-Italy and China-Portugal strategic partnerships and enhance friendship among the people
Wu Hongbo said that the spreading of the international financial crisis exerts increasing impact on countries and the world economy continues to slow down. Countries in the world yearn for deepening cooperation to handle the crisis. The 11th China-EU Summit was held successfully not long ago and the China-EU relations show a sound momentum of resumption and development. Against such a major background, President Hu's upcoming European tour is of great significance to deepening the China-Italy and China-Portugal all-round strategic partnerships, promoting the healthy and sustained development of China-EU relations, maintaining the regional and world peace and stability, addressing the global challenges and building a harmonious world with lasting peace and common prosperity.
With regard to the visit to Italy, Wu said that President Hu, at invitation, will pay a state visit to Italy from July 5 to 8. Both China and Italy are ancient civilizations and enjoy a long history of friendship. The establishment of China-Italy all-round strategic partnership in 2004 opened a new chapter in the history of bilateral relations. The two countries keep frequent high-level exchanges and close political consultations. They respect the major concerns of each other and maintain close consultations and cooperation. Italy is China's 5th largest trade partner and investment source country in the EU. The bilateral pragmatic cooperation continue to expand and has achieved fruitful results in science, technology and environmental protection. The bilateral cultural exchanges are diversified and friendship at the non-governmental level is growing.
He noted that Italy is one of China's major partners in the EU. China and Italy will celebrate the 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties next year, so President Hu's visit is significantly important to reviewing and planning the development of bilateral relations. Both sides attach great importance and have made careful preparations for the visit which is expected to reach the following goals: first, to consolidate political mutual trust, continue to respect each other's major concerns, strengthen coordination in international affairs and reinforce the political basis of bilateral relations; second, to advance pragmatic cooperation, expand trade and economic exchanges, deepen cooperation on science, technology and environmental protection and increase capacity of tackling the financial crisis; third, to tap the potential of bilateral cooperation, cultivate new growth points like new energy, creative industries and tourism and broaden the interest basis of bilateral relations; fourth, to expand humanities exchange, enhance the understanding and friendship between the two peoples and cement the public opinion basis of bilateral relations.
He added that during the visit , President Hu will hold talks with Italian President Napolitano and meet with Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi, Speaker of Senate Schifani and Parliament Speaker Fini respectively. President Hu will also attend together with Prime Minister Berlusconi the signing ceremony of bilateral cooperation documents and the China-Italy trade and economic forum & entrepreneurs' meeting. China believes with the joint efforts of both sides President Hu's visit will further enhance the friendship of the Chinese and the Italian people from generation to generation and boost the development of China-Italy and China-EU all-round strategic partnerships.
As to the visit to Portugal, Wu said that President Hu, at invitation, will pay a state visit to Portugal from July 10 to 11. China and Portugal enjoy traditional friendship. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the bilateral relations have developed healthily. The bilateral cooperation in various fields has gained long-term progress since the establishment of all-round strategic partnership in 2005. Currently, the two sides maintain high-level contacts and solid political mutual trust. Portuguese Parliament Speaker Jaime Gama visited China successfully in May this year. The bilateral cooperation in all fields moves forward steadily, and both sides have witnessed the close people-to-people contacts, continuous growth of trade and economic cooperation and expansion of the Chinese and the Portuguese languages education. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-Portugal diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of Macao's return to China, which will create new development opportunities for the bilateral relations.
He noted that during the visit President Hu will hold talks with Portuguese President Silva and meet with Portuguese Prime Minister Socrates and Parliament Speaker Gama. The leaders of both countries will comprehensively review the development of bilateral relations since the establishment of China-Protugal diplomatic ties 30 years ago, plan the future development and exchange in-depth views on consolidating and advancing China-EU and China-Portugal relations, jointly coping with the international financial crisis and other major international and regional issues of common concern. In addition, they will participate in the signing ceremony of bilateral cooperation documents and the China-Portugal trade and economic forum & entrepreneurs' meeting. China believes with the joint efforts of both sides President Hu's visit will achieve a big success and significantly enhances the China-Portugal traditional friendship and deepens the mutually beneficial cooperation in all sectors.
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Answering the question of China's opinions on the current international financial system, He Yafei said that China advocates the democratization of international relations and remains open to the discussions on global economic governance, particularly the related mechanism arrangement. China thinks that the mechanism, no matter what form it takes, must follow three principles: first, representativeness as wide as possible; second, equality, i.e. both developing and developed countries should have their concerns reflected in a balanced manner and be given equal voice; third, effectiveness, i.e. the focus should be put on solving problems instead of paying lip service. The G20 has played an important role of addressing the financial crisis, and other mechanisms are also playing their part.
Answering the question on climate change, he noted that climate change is a common challenge faced by the entire mankind. China believes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol are the major channels for international negotiations and cooperation on climate change and other mechanisms are useful support and supplementation. The MEF should concentrate on increasing consensus and strengthening cooperation, adhere to the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" and inject political vigor in the process of relevant UN negotiations. China resolutely opposes exercising trade protectionism at the excuse of addressing climate change.
On the question concerning the international reserve currency, he said that the US dollar is a major international reserve currency. We hope the US dollar maintains stable exchange rate. The current international financial crisis has disclosed the defects of international financial system. China hopes the international currency system will become diversified in the future, and this is the common expectation of the international community as well.
As to whether China will send a procurement delegation during President Hu's visit to Italy, Wu said that it is necessary to reinforce bilateral trade and economic cooperation and oppose trade and investment protectionism in whatever form with tangible actions in order to cope with the financial crisis. During President Hu's visit, China will send a large trade and investment promotion delegation composed of more than 200 businesses to Italy to discuss trade and investment cooperation and boost the bilateral trade and investment. Related departments and businesses of both countries are keeping active communications and coordination in this regard.