On the afternoon of May 2, 2010, Chinese President Hu Jintao met respectively with a number of foreign leaders who are here in Shanghai for the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 World Expo.
The foreign leaders at the meetings congratulated China on the successful opening of the Shanghai World Expo. President Hu said he looked forward to the spectacular exhibition of all countries at the Expo.
Chinese President Hu Jintao meets with Malian President Amadou Toumany Toure who is here for the opening ceremony of the Shanghai World Expo
During his meeting with Malian President Amadou Toumany Toure, Hu pointed out that China and Mali enjoy sound relations and their peoples enjoy a profound friendship. For 50 years since they forged diplomatic ties, the two countries have been all-weather good friends and good partners who have treated each other with sincerity and helped each other, Hu told Toure. "Such friendship has been exemplary in South-South cooperation," he said, adding that China attaches great importance to its traditional friendship with Mali and would like to take it as a new starting point to promote further development of ties. First, Hu said the two countries should maintain the momentum of exchanges, promote exchanges at different levels, enhance mutual political trust and further bilateral relations at grassroots level. Second, the two countries should continue to deepen trade relations, push bilateral trade cooperation for more tangible outcome, make overall planning for bilateral cooperation and explore new means and new areas of cooperation in the spirit of mutual benefit and common development, Hu said. "We should explore cooperation between Chinese and Malian businesses in infrastructure construction, telecommunication, agriculture and mineral sectors." Third, Hu urged both sides to expand humanities exchanges. He said China will continue to provide personnel training for Mali.
President Toure recalled Hu's "historic" visit to Mali last year, saying it played a great role in pushing forward bilateral ties. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the independence of Mali as well as the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. He expressed thanks for China's firm support in his country’s social and economic development over the past 50 years, adding that the Malian people hold profound feelings toward the Chinese people. He said Mali adheres to the one-China policy and is willing to work with China to maintain high-level contacts and cement cooperation in diverse sectors including economy, technology, education, health and humanities.
Chinese President Hu Jintao meets with President of Seychelles James Alix Michel who is here for the opening ceremony of the Shanghai World Expo
When meeting with President of Seychelles James Alix Michel, Hu said that the two peoples share profound traditional friendship. Despite the changes in the international situation, the two countries have always treated each other with sincerity and as equals and helped each other for common development since the establishment of diplomatic ties 34 years ago. The China-Seychelles relations could be deemed as an excellent model for friendly cooperation between countries with different sizes and social systems. China is willing to join hands with Seychelles to push forward the friendship and cooperation between the two countries in a comprehensive manner, Hu said. He called for continuing the momentum of high-level exchanges, making further plans for developing bilateral relations, strengthening bilateral political consultations and cementing exchanges and coordination on key issues such as dealing with the global financial crisis and climate change. Urging efforts to expand economic and trade cooperation, Hu said China is willing to offer economic aid within its capacity to Seychelles, would ensure the timely delivery of the projects within the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and agreed upon by both sides with high quality and would encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Seychelles and participate in the country's economic development. He also called for more efforts to promote exchanges between China and Seychelles in the fields of culture and education and encourage and support friendly exchanges between the youth and women of the two countries. China will encourage more Chinese citizens to travel to Seychelles. Hu pointed out that the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has become an important platform for group dialogue and effective mechanism for pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa. Hu expressed China's willingness to work closely with African countries including Seychelles to implement the follow-up programs of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to benefit the African people as soon as possible.
Hailing China as a good friend and partner of Seychelles, Michel agreed that the Seychelles-China relations could serve as an excellent example for relations between developing countries. Over the years, the two countries have maintained special friendly ties and profound friendship, and China has offered aid to Seychelles’s sustainable development. He said Seychelles was willing to work jointly with China to strengthen and develop the friendship between the two countries, promote pragmatic cooperation in various fields and enhance exchanges and coordination in dealing with international and regional affairs so as to safeguard the common interests of developing countries. Seychelles would firmly support China's efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity and realize the great cause of national reunification, Michel said. Africa-China partnership is welcome by African people and Seychelles is ready to serve as a bridge for Africa-China friendship, he added.
Chinese President Hu Jintao meets with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisyan who is here for the opening ceremony of the Shanghai World Expo
When meeting with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisyan, Hu pointed out that China and Armenia have become trustworthy friends and sincere partners since they established diplomatic relations 18 years ago. He said the two countries have always treated each other as equals, supported each other and sought mutual benefits in their cooperation. China is willing to work with Armenia to keep closer high-level exchanges, enhance communication and consultation by increasing exchanges between the governments, parliaments and political parties, and cement coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs to safeguard their mutual interest, Hu said. He said the two countries should seek pragmatic cooperation and promote common development. Both sides should advance cooperation in energy, communication and power industries, and keep expanding cooperation in a bid to promote the growth of their economies. Hu also called for more cultural and people-to-people exchanges by enhancing contacts in the fields of culture, education, science, technology and sports and at local levels. Both sides should encourage students to study in each other’s country and support exchange of visits between their artistic troupes and other local and non-governmental organizations as well as holding of Cultural Day activities, to enhance understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
Echoing Hu’s comments on bilateral ties and his important proposals on the development of the ties, Sarkisyan spoke highly of smooth development of Armenia-China friendly cooperative relations and growth of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. The president said he admires China for its constructive role in international and regional affairs and feels grateful for China's support to Armenia. Armenia and China are highly complementary to each other and enjoy immense potentials for further cooperation, said Sarkisyan, adding that his country is willing to work with China to tap their respective advantages to the full, deepen pragmatic cooperation, do a good job in cooperation projects and increase cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
Yu Zhengsheng, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, Ling Jihua, member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, Wang Huning, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, State Councilor Dai Bingguo and other officials attended the meetings.