From 14 to 20 June 2009, President Hu Jintao attended the ninth meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council and the BRIC Summit in Yekaterinburg, and paid state visits to Russia, Slovakia and Croatia. Before President Hu concluded his visit, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who was accompanying the President, gave a briefing to the journalists traveling with the delegation about the visit.
Foreign Minister Yang said that President Hu's visit is a major diplomatic activity aimed at expanding China's relations with neighboring countries, major emerging countries and Central and Eastern European countries under the new circumstances characterized by complex and profound changes in the international situation, continuous spread of the international financial crisis, the rise of new challenges to regional security and growing interest in achieving development through enhanced cooperation. President Hu traveled over 16,000 km in just seven days, attending two important international conferences and paying state visits to three countries. Altogether, he participated in over 60 bilateral and multilateral functions. This is a visit of friendship and cooperation, which combined multilateral and bilateral activities and took him to both big and small countries. This is an immensely successful visit with a rich program, memorable highlights, fruitful outcomes and far-reaching implications. The four key outcomes of President Hu's visit are as follows:
I. Strengthening unity and cooperation among SCO member states
Foreign Minister Yang highlighted the importance of the SCO Yekaterinburg Summit. The fact that the Summit was attended by the heads of state of all six member states and leaders of the four observer states demonstrated the strong desire of the Organization to tackle the financial crisis through unity and cooperation. As a key member of the Organization, China took an active part and played a unique role in the Summit.
President Hu delivered important remarks at the Summit. He analyzed the new situation and new challenges facing SCO's development, and pointed out that amidst the international financial crisis, to intensify practical cooperation and build stronger capacity is an important guarantee for member states to deal with the crisis and fend off risks. He called on member states to strengthen confidence, support one another and weather the storm together like passengers in the same boat. President Hu's five-point proposal, i.e. increasing political mutual trust, deepening economic cooperation, enhancing security cooperation, expanding cultural exchanges and staying open to the outside world, set the direction of the SCO's future development. Leaders of other participating countries applauded President Hu's proposal, which they believe will help to bolster confidence in SCO's future, intensify unity and coordination among member states and enhance the cohesiveness of the Organization. A number of important documents, including the Yekaterinburg Declaration of the Heads of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and a joint communiqué, were signed by heads of member states and issued at the end of the Summit. The parties agreed to continue to follow the "Shanghai Spirit" and, based on the principles and provisions of the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Between the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, intensify cooperation in all fields, safeguard the common interests of member states and maintain security and stability of the region.
The joint endeavor to counter the international financial crisis is a priority and a highlight of the SCO Summit. President Hu explained the main steps adopted by the Chinese government to tackle the financial crisis and announced substantive measures to be taken by the Chinese government, including providing US$10 billion of credit support for multilateral and bilateral economic and technical cooperation projects within the SCO framework and sending trade and investment promotion missions to SCO member states. As a responsible member of the SCO, China has honored its commitments and taken concrete steps together with other member states to tackle the crisis. China's positive stance and steps have been highly appreciated and welcomed by all participants.
Security is an issue of common concern for SCO member states and a key area of cooperation for the Organization. President Hu and other leaders signed the SCO Counter-Terrorism Convention and approved the SCO Regulations on Political Diplomatic Measures and Mechanisms of Response to Events Jeopardizing Regional Peace, Security and Stability. Representatives of member states signed the Agreement Among the Governments of the SCO Member States on Cooperation in the Field of Ensuring International Information Security and other documents. These documents enhanced the SCO's institutional framework for security cooperation and demonstrated to the international community the resolve and confidence of SCO member states in combating the "three forces" (i.e. terrorism, separatism and extremism) and transnational crimes. President Hu also had in-depth exchange of views with other leaders on the situation in Central Asia and Afghanistan, and discussed ways to resolve global and regional issues.
To boost mutual understanding and expand friendly cooperation, President Hu stated China's commitment to peaceful development on several occasions and explained China's policy of building amicable relations and partnerships with neighboring countries, and had extensive interactions with other participating leaders. Despite his tight schedule, President Hu had separate meetings with Kyrgyz President K.S. Bakiev, Tajik President E. Rakhmon, Uzbek President I.A. Karimov, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. They reached important agreement on growing the respective bilateral relations and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, which boosted China's good-neighborly relations, mutual trust and practical cooperation with the countries concerned.
The SCO has been growing and expanding. A decision was taken at the Summit to grant the status of dialogue partners to Sri Lanka and Belarus, and formally launch the dialogue partner mechanism. This expanded the scope of the SCO's international cooperation and enhanced its international image as an open and transparent organization dedicated to cooperation.
II. Enhancing dialogue, cooperation and coordination with emerging market countries
Foreign Minister Yang said that the first meeting of leaders of "BRIC" countries, which include China, Russia, India and Brazil, is of ground-breaking significance. Leaders of the four countries held in-depth exchange of views on major economic and development issues, discussed ways to deal with the financial crisis, and mapped out the way forward for dialogue, cooperation and coordination among the four countries. The meeting captured wide attention from the international community.
President Hu gave a comprehensive and systematic account of China's views and position on "BRIC" cooperation in the context of the international situation characterized by the financial crisis. He pointed out that the four countries face both development opportunities and unprecedented challenges, and they should seize historical opportunities, strengthen unity and cooperation, and jointly safeguard the overall interests of developing countries. President Hu outlined the important principles guiding "BRIC" dialogue and cooperation, and put forward a four-point proposal, including enhancing political trust, deepening economic cooperation, expanding people-to-people exchanges and promoting experience sharing. His words found resonance and support from other leaders. The leaders agreed that dialogue and cooperation among "BRIC" countries have promising prospects and should be further strengthened and deepened so as to effectively uphold the common interests of emerging markets and developing countries.
President Hu pointed out that to actively meet the international financial crisis and restore world economic growth are major tasks facing "BRIC" countries and the world at large. The four countries should step up coordination and work for the full and effective implementation of the outcomes of the G20 summits. He urged the four countries to jointly promote early recovery of the world economy, advance reform of the international financial system, follow through on the UN Millennium Development Goals, and ensure food security, energy and resource security and public health security. President Hu outlined the series of resolute measures introduced by China to offset the impact of the international financial crisis and maintain stable and relatively fast economic growth and the positive results they have produced. He also spelled out the specific steps taken by China as part of international cooperation. He encouraged the four countries to strive to emerge from the crisis earlier than others, safeguard the common interests of developing countries and return the world economy to growth. President Hu's remarks demonstrated that China, as a major emerging market, is committed to cooperation, development and fulfilling its responsibility, and charted the course for the future development of the "BRIC" dialogue mechanism. They were widely endorsed by the leaders of other participating countries and positively assessed by world media.
President Hu and other leaders also held in-depth exchange of views on major global issues. The Joint Statement of the BRIC Countries' Leaders in Yekaterinburg and the joint statement on the food issue adopted at the Summit spelled out the consensus of the four countries on issues ranging from the international financial crisis to energy security, food security and climate change, and increased the weight and influence of emerging markets and developing countries in international affairs.
III. Raising the Level of China-Russia Strategic Coordination and Mutual Trust
Foreign Minister Yang said that this year marks the 60th anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic ties and China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination now stands at a new historical starting point and faces important development opportunities. The Russian government attached great importance to President Hu's visit and accorded him the highest-level reception and made meticulous arrangements. President Hu was also very warmly received by people from all sectors of the Russian society.
President Hu and President Medvedev held wide-ranging talks. They fully reviewed the remarkable course of China-Russia relations in the past 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties and charted the course for the future of the bilateral relations. President Hu Jintao pointed out that deepening mutual trust, bearing in mind the overall interests and adopting a long-term perspective are the basic principles that drive the growth of China-Russia relations and the two sides should seize the opportunities and work together to enhance the good-neighborly friendship and strategic coordination in an all-round way. At a time when the international financial crisis is still spreading and deepening, it is all the more important and urgent for China and Russia to strengthen practical cooperation and promote common development. The two sides should further increase practical cooperation in economy and trade, resources and culture and at local and non-governmental levels, and deepen strategic coordination in international affairs. The two sides agreed to further promote the growth of bilateral relations and cooperation in priority areas under the new circumstances. A Joint Statement was issued after the meeting between the two presidents and the two sides also signed several documents on cooperation in energy, investment and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
The Conference Marking the 60th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations Between China and Russia is an important event on the agenda of President Hu's visit to Russia. In the important speech he delivered at the Conference, President Hu Jintao summarized the achievements made in the development of China-Russia relations in terms of political relations, practical cooperation, people-to-people friendship and international cooperation, and pointed out that mutual trust, treating each other with sincerity, mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, mutual understanding, mutual support, seeking common ground while shelving differences and friendly consultation are the profound inspirations we have drawn in the course of growing China-Russia relations in the past 60 years. He stressed the importance of remaining sincere to and trusting each other, staying committed to mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, carrying forward the friendship from generation to generation, maintaining close collaboration and working together to create a bright future for China-Russia relations. President Hu's cordial and heart-warming remarks stroke a strong chord among the audience and received warm rounds of applause. President Medvedev pointed out in his speech that Russia-China relations have set an example and Russia stands ready to expand relations with China on all fronts. Together, the two presidents watched the splendid performances staged by Chinese and Russian artists. The performances fully demonstrated the deep amity and friendship between the Chinese and Russian peoples.
During the visit, President Hu met with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Chairman of the Russian State Duma Boris Gryzlov and had in-depth exchange of views and reached important common understanding with them on the bilateral relations and major international and regional issues of common interest. President Hu also awarded prizes to Russian representatives for their outstanding contribution to China-Russia friendship and encouraged them to continue to work for the development of China-Russia relations. President Hu also took time out of his busy schedule to give a group interview to Chinese and foreign media and shared his views on the SCO, "BRIC" cooperation and China-Russia relations. President Hu was received with warm welcome by people from all sectors wherever he went in Russia.
IV. Advancing Friendly Cooperation Between China and Central and Eastern European Countries
Foreign Minister Yang said that President Hu's state visits to Slovakia and Croatia fully demonstrated that China attaches great importance to growing relations with Central and Eastern European countries and that it pursues the principle of treating all countries as equals in conducting diplomacy. China enjoys a high level of political mutual trust with Slovakia and Croatia, sound momentum of economic cooperation and trade and profound traditional friendship, and to further deepen the friendly relations and cooperation between China and the two countries is anchored on a solid foundation. This is the first time that a Chinese head of state pays state visits to the two countries and the visits are of great historical and practical significance.
During his visit to Slovakia, President Hu Jintao held talks with President Ivan Gasparovic and met with Prime Minister Robert Fico and Parliament Speaker Pavol Paska. The two sides applauded the profound friendship forged during the long-standing friendly exchanges between China and Slovakia and highly commended the achievements made in the development of bilateral relations in the past 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. The two sides agreed to take the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties as a good opportunity to cement traditional friendship, enrich cooperation and promote the sustained, sound and steady growth of China-Slovakia friendly relations and cooperation. When attending the breakfast meeting with the Chinese and Slovak business communities, President Hu expressed the hope that the two sides will continue to take effective measures to expand areas of economic cooperation and trade, raise the level of economic cooperation and trade and promote the balanced growth of two-way trade. Enterprises of the two countries also signed many cooperation agreements.
During his visit to Croatia, President Hu Jintao held talks with President Stjepan Mesic and met with Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and Parliament Speaker Luka Bebic. The two heads of state summarized the tremendous achievements made and valuable experience gained in the development of China-Croatia relations and mapped out a comprehensive blueprint for the future development of this relationship. President Hu made a four-point proposal on the development of China-Croatia comprehensive partnership of cooperation in the new era and stressed China's readiness to enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation and consolidate friendship with Croatia and work together to broaden and raise to a higher level China-Croatia comprehensive partnership of cooperation. When meeting with representatives of the business communities of the two countries, President Hu made the proposals of increasing business exchanges, advancing cooperation in priority areas, promoting mutual investment and expanding cooperation in international economic affairs and his proposals were well received by people from all sectors in Croatia. The two sides also signed cooperation documents in economy and trade, civil aviation, health and other fields.
During his visits to Slovakia and Croatia, President Hu also had in-depth exchange of views with leaders of the two countries on addressing the international financial crisis and situation in Central and Eastern Europe and outlined China's vision of building a harmonious world. All this shows the spirit of the Chinese government of enhancing traditional friendship and seeking common development with all countries on the basis of mutual respect and equality, and this has won China wide acclaim.
In conclusion, Foreign Minister Yang said that President Hu's trip achieved the goal of consolidating unity and friendship, strengthening strategic coordination, deepening practical cooperation, safeguarding common interests and promoting common development and the visit achieved full success. The visit will have significant and far-reaching impact on promoting the long-term, healthy and steady development of the SCO, strengthening China's dialogue and cooperation with other major emerging countries, uplifting China's strategic partnership of coordination with Russia, cementing China's traditional friendship and cooperation with Slovakia, Croatia and other Central and Eastern European countries, jointly responding to the international financial crisis and building a harmonious world. We will work hard to implement the important common understanding President Hu reached with leaders of those countries he visited and work together for an even better future!