President Hu Jintao Postpones Visits to Venezuela and Chile and Premier Wen Jiabao Postpones Visits to Brunei, Indonesia and Myanmar Because of the Strong Earthquake in Northwestern China
Due to the earthquake that struck the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu in southern Qinghai Province, Chinese President Hu Jintao has postponed visits to Venezuela and Chile after the nuclear security summit in Washington, the second summit of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) and a state visit to Brazil and will return home earlier. Premier Wen Jiabao has postponed a scheduled visit to Brunei, Indonesia and Myanmar on April 22-25.
Hu held separate telephone conversations with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, informing them of the situation in China's earthquake-hit region. The Chinese government has been organizing relief efforts in Qinghai and Hu told Pinera and Chavez he had to postpone visits to their countries in order to return home as soon as possible to participate in the relief work.
China highly values its relations with Chile from a strategic perspective, Hu told Pinera. China wishes to work with Chile to deepen political relations between the two countries, strengthen pragmatic cooperation and open a new phase of China-Chile partnership of all-round cooperation, he added. President Hu also said that China attaches great importance to relations with Venezuela and hopes to enhance pragmatic cooperation in various fields and promote the strategic partnership for common development between the two countries to a new high.
Pinera said he fully understands and supports Hu's decision to return home earlier, and expressed profound condolences over the heavy casualties caused by the quake on behalf of his government and people. He also hailed China's aid to Chile after his country was struck by a devastating 8.8-magnitude earthquake on Feb. 27. Pinera said Chile would endeavor with China to promote cooperation in various fields, and steadily boost Chile-China relations.
Chavez said he fully understands Hu's decision to postpone his visit to Venezuela, and sent the deepest condolences over the earthquake in Qinghai Province, extending profound sympathy to the Chinese people. He said Venezuela would like to offer any support for China’s quake relief efforts. Chavez said Venezuela attaches importance to its relations with China, and hopes to further strengthen the fraternal friendship between both peoples and boost the pragmatic cooperation in all aspects.
Brazil, Russia and India -- the other three sides attending the BRIC summit -- also sent condolences to the quake-hit zones in Qinghai province. The BRIC nations decided to hold the meeting earlier and compressed the schedule.
Hu also cut short his state visit to Brazil after consulting with the Brazilian side.