--Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi talks about the outcomes of

President Hu Jintao's attendance at UN summit meetings and the

Third Financial Summit of G-20 Leaders

From 21 to 25 September 2009, President Hu Jintao attended the UN Summit on Climate Change, the General Debate of the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly, the UN Security Council Summit on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Nuclear Disarmament and the Third Financial Summit of G-20 Leaders in Pittsburgh. Upon the conclusion of President Hu Jintao's visit, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi briefed journalists traveling with President Hu's delegation on the outcomes of the President's attendance at the summits.

Yang Jiechi said that at a time when China was going to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its founding, President Hu Jintao traveled to the United States to attend the four important summit meetings. It is a major diplomatic action that has a great significance and profound influence. Today, the international situation is complex and volatile and the world is undergoing major development, major changes and major adjustments. The world economy is showing signs of stabilization, yet uncertainties remain in the prospects of recovery. The impact of the global financial crisis on the world economy and political landscape is gradually showing up. Climate change and other global challenges are posing serious threats to mankind. The issues discussed at the four summit meetings, including global financial crisis, climate change, nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament, are hot spot issues of concern to all countries in the world. They have a major bearing on the future international relations and global situation as well as long-term development and fundamental interests of China. In the course of handling these major issues, China's views, stances and measures have attracted close international attention. Under such special circumstances, President Hu Jintao's attendance at the summit meetings in the United States and his comprehensive and systematic statement of China's views and propositions on major global and regional issues are of great significance. The attendance of four international summit meetings by the head of state of China in such a short period of time is unprecedented in China's diplomatic history. President Hu's visit is rich in content and has produced fruitful results.

First, join hands to create a bright future

Yang Jiechi said that the General Debate provides the most important platform of discussion at the UN General Assembly. Although this year is a common year of the General Assembly, heads of state and government of more than 140 countries gathered in New York to participate in the General Debate. In his important speech entitled "unite as one and work for a bright future" at this august forum, President Hu Jintao comprehensively elaborated on China's views on the international situation and major global and regional issues and systematically outlined China's path of development and achievements over the past 60 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

President Hu Jintao pointed out that the world today is undergoing major development, major changes and major adjustments. The trend towards peace, development and cooperation, which represent the call of our times, has grown stronger than ever. At the same time, uncertainties and destabilizing factors in the international situation pose serious challenges to world peace and development. The international community should stay committed to peace, development, cooperation, common progress and tolerance and continue the joint endeavor to build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity. It is important to view security in a broader perspective and uphold world peace and stability. It is important to take a more holistic approach to development and promote common prosperity. It is important to pursue cooperation with a more open mind and promote mutual benefit and common progress. And it is important to be more tolerant to one another and live together in harmony.

President Hu Jintao stressed that China's future is more closely connected with that of the world. China is committed to the path of peaceful development and the win-win strategy of opening up. It will develop friendly relations and cooperation with all countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. China has always been and will continue to be a positive force for world peace and common development.

President Hu Jintao stated that as a responsible and major developing country, China has fulfilled its commitment under the UN Millennium Declaration. So far, China has given assistance to more than 120 countries, cancelled debts for 49 heavily-indebted poor countries and least developed countries, and extended zero-tariff treatment to commodities from over 40 least developed countries. In the future, China will increase support for other developing countries hit hard by the financial crisis, continue to implement the measures aimed at assisting other developing countries in speeding up development and facilitating the attainment of the MDGs. China will follow through on the measures to help African countries as announced at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and continue to participate in and promote regional monetary and financial cooperation.

The international community and world media all recognized President Hu Jintao's speech as visionary, incisive and profound, indicating that China is playing an irreplaceable role in international and regional affairs as a constructive party in the international system. The international community welcomed a more important role of China on the international stage.

At the UN Security Council Summit on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Nuclear Disarmament, President Hu Jintao further elaborated on the new security concept advocated by China from the perspective of strategic security and discussed China's policies and concepts on nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. This is the first important policy statement made by a Chinese leader at a multilateral forum on the nuclear issue in nearly ten years.

President Hu Jintao emphasized in his speech that China has consistently stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. China is firmly committed to a nuclear strategy of self-defense. It has adhered to the policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstance, and made the unequivocal commitment that it will unconditionally not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones. China will continue to advance the international nuclear disarmament process and will continue to play a constructive role in upholding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. This fully shows the just, responsible and constructive attitude of China. It reflects the legitimate concern of developing countries and serves their interests. And it has vigorously promoted the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament process towards the positive direction. President Hu Jintao's speech was highly and positively assessed by the international community.

Second, join hands to tackle global financial crisis

Yang Jiechi said that G-20 is an important and effective platform for the international community to carry out cooperation to tackle the global economic and financial crisis and strengthen global economic governance. Currently, the world economy is at a critical moment of recovery from the crisis. It is the common hope of the international community that the Third Financial Summit of G-20 Leaders in Pittsburgh will play a positive role in promoting the world economic recovery. At the same time, some countries have placed high expectations on China given the outstanding performance of the Chinese economy in the global economic crisis. During his attendance at the Third G-20 Financial Summit, President Hu outlined the measures taken by the Chinese Government and the achievements China had made in tackling the global financial crisis and implementing the outcomes of the first two summits. He also elaborated on China's views and propositions concerning the current economic and financial crisis and China's proposals on promoting international cooperation.

President Hu Jintao stressed that positive changes have appeared in the world economy, yet the foundation for the world economic situation to take a turn for the better is not firm. Factors of uncertainty are still many, and the realization of comprehensive recovery will be a slow and tortuous process. The international community still faces three main tasks. First, unswervingly stimulate economic growth. Various countries should maintain the strength of economic stimulus plans and make greater efforts to promote consumption and expand domestic demand while at the same time remain alert to the negative influence, particularly the potential risk of inflation. It is necessary to resolutely oppose and boycott various forms of protectionism and promote success of the Doha round of talks at an early date on the basis of consolidating existing achievements. Second, unswervingly promote the reform of the international financial system. It is important to remain committed to the reform of the international financial system and make sure that the goal is not lowered. It is necessary to work hard to increase the representation and the right to have a say of developing countries and continuously promote substantive progress in reform. At the same time, it is important to strengthen cooperation in financial supervision. Third, unswervingly promote the balanced development of the world economy. The root cause to imbalance of the global economy is the serious imbalance between development of the north and the south. It is therefore important to improve the international mechanism for promoting balanced development, increase various forms of input into development and attach great importance to technological cooperation so as to create conditions for narrowing the gap of development of the large number of developing countries.

President Hu pointed out that China's economic stimulus package to tackle the international financial crisis has produced considerable results. China will continue to responsibly implement the assistance commitments and measures and provide more help to developing countries, especially the least developed countries in Africa, according to its ability. The views, propositions and measures elaborated by President Hu on promoting international economic and financial cooperation were applauded by many leaders attending the summit.

On the reform of the international financial system, President Hu, acting in the fundamental interests of the Chinese people and people of the whole world, set out the goals, principles and specific proposals on solving the issues, which was endorsed by most leaders at the summit. It helped to bring about important outcomes at the summit in terms of institutionalization of the G-20 and reform of the international financial institutions. It also laid a solid foundation for stronger representation and say of developing countries in the international financial system and closer dialogue and cooperation in the global economic and financial sectors.

Third, work together on climate change

Yang Jiechi said that as the Copenhagen conference approaches, the issue of climate change is warming up. China is the largest developing and emerging country. As such, its position and propositions on climate change is a subject of much international attention. President Hu was invited to attend and address the United Nations Summit on Climate Change. He expounded on China's position on climate change and its efforts and achievements in tackling the issue, made proposals on international cooperation to address climate change and announced the host of measures to be taken by the Chinese Government.

President Hu stressed that global climate change has a profound impact on the existence and development of mankind, and is a major challenge facing all countries. President Hu made four proposals for the international community to join hands to address climate change. First, fulfilling respective responsibilities should be at the core of this global endeavor. It is important to act in keeping with the provisions of the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol and advance negotiations under the Bali Roadmap in real earnest. Second, achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcome should be the goal of this global endeavor. Developed countries should support developing countries in tackling climate change. This is not only their responsibility, but also serves their long-term interest. It is important to make the endeavor on climate change a win-win for both developed and developing countries and a win-win for both the interests of individual countries and the common interests of humanity. Third, promoting common development should be the basis of this global endeavor. Without common development, particularly the development of developing countries, there cannot be a broad and solid basis for tackling climate change. Fourth, ensuring financing and technology holds the key to the success of this global endeavor. Developed countries should take up their responsibility and provide new, additional, adequate and predictable financial support and technology transfer to developing countries.

President Hu said that China is the world's largest developing country. Despite the numerous difficulties in pursuing development, China takes the issue of climate change seriously and has adopted a wide range of effective measures in this regard. China will further integrate actions on climate change into its economic and social development plan and take the following measures. It will intensify effort to conserve energy and improve energy efficiency. It will vigorously develop renewable energy and nuclear energy. It will energetically increase forest carbon sink. It will step up effort to develop green economy. As a responsible country, China will work for positive outcomes at the Copenhagen conference.

Yang Jiechi said that President Hu laid emphasis on common but differentiated responsibilities and stood firm for the interests of developing countries. He also made scientific and pragmatic proposals, charting the course for strengthening dialogue and cooperation between developed and developing countries. In particular, his announcement of major emissions cutting measures that China will take won international understanding and acclaim. Many leaders believed that President Hu's remarks brought to light the crux of the current negotiations on climate change, reflected the common aspiration of developing countries, and showed the image of China as a major, responsible country. The world media reported that President Hu worked to build international consensus and mobilize international cooperation at the summit, that his proposed measures were heartening and that all these showed that China is playing an important role in addressing climate change.

Fourth, join hands to promote healthy and steady development of bilateral relations

Yang Jiechi said that President Hu had intensive bilateral activities during the summits. He held bilateral talks, conducted fruitful exchanges and communication and reached much important consensus with a number of foreign leaders on further growing bilateral relations and jointly meeting global crises and challenges.

During his meeting with President Obama of the United States, President Hu gave a positive appraisal of the progress of China-US relations and proposed that China and the United States, in the time to come, should maintain close high-level contacts, carry out good follow-up work on the first round of Strategic and Economic Dialogues, deepen coordination and cooperation on major international and regional issues, enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges, respect and accommodate each other's core interests and concerns, and firmly oppose trade and investment protectionism.

In his meeting with President Medvedev of Russia, President Hu indicated that China attaches great importance to strengthening the strategic partnership of coordination with Russia and the relevant departments are working vigorously to implement the agreement reached by the two sides. The two presidents agreed that China and Russia should intensify exchanges and cooperation across the board and further deepen their strategic partnership of coordination.

In his first meeting with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama of Japan since the latter took office, President Hu laid out important proposals on developing the China-Japan relationship. They include: increase high-level contacts and enhance political mutual trust; strengthen economic cooperation and trade and expand common interests; enhance people-to-people friendship and garner strong public support for the relationship; strengthen cooperation on Asian affairs and coordination on international affairs; properly handle disputes and uphold the overall interests of the China-Japan friendship. President Hu stressed that historical issues and the Taiwan issue concern the political foundation of China-Japan relations, and hoped that the Japanese side will honor its commitments and handle the issues prudently and properly.

In his meeting with President Sarkozy of France, President Hu pointed out that China will work with France to seriously take stock of the historical experience in developing the bilateral relationship, adhere to the right direction of the relationship and move forward the China-France comprehensive and strategic partnership in a healthy and steady manner.

President Hu also had meetings with President Zuma of South Africa, President title="Lee Myung-bak"Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea, President Berdymukhamedov of Turkmenistan and President Morales of Bolivia, during which he exchanged views with them on bilateral relations and other major issues of mutual interest.

Yang Jiechi stated that China has friendly and cooperative relations with other countries in the world and has established various partnerships with many countries. Maintaining close high-level contacts is an important way to enhance and grow bilateral relations. Despite his busy schedule, President Hu held important bilateral meetings with many leaders on the sidelines of the summits. Through the meetings, broad consensus was reached, political mutual trust strengthened, common interests expanded, and cooperation in various areas enhanced, giving a strong boost to the healthy and steady growth of the bilateral relationships.

Yang Jiechi concluded by saying that President Hu's attendance at the summits is a complete success. China will earnestly implement the outcomes of President Hu's visit and the important consensus reached at the summits, continue to increase coordination and cooperation with other countries, jointly seize opportunities and address challenges, and make new contribution to world peace, stability and development.