Hu´s European tour & Chinese diplomacy (Nov. 15) 
cctv.com 11-16-2005 09:31
Air Time: Nov. 15
Those who follow the Chinese diplomacy in recent months are perhaps all trying to figure out the considerations of Chinese policy-makers. Chinese president Hu Jintao has wrapped up his day official visit to three European countries, Britain, Germany and Spain today.
He went to Europe after coming back from Pyongyang and Hanoi. Seeking economic cooperation is likely to be the centerpiece of President Hu Jintao鈥檚 roadmap for the Chinese diplomacy. Secondly, it is an independent and balanced policy in an age of power politics and globalization. But to address the balance sheets of the national security strategy, China spares no efforts in promoting cultural exchanges and in conducting regular high-level dialogues with all major powers in the West. President Hu says China loves peace due to its unique domestic conditions and the humiliating contemporary history. So this country pursues peaceful development.
News Review
Chinese president in Britain
Chinese President Hu Jintao has kicked off his state visit to Britain, at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II. Upon arrival on Tuesday, the Chinese president expressed hopes to push forward the Sino-British comprehensive strategic relationship.
President Hu was greeted at Heathrow Airport by Princess Anne, who represented her mother Queen Elizabeth II.
Later, the Queen held a full-dress welcoming ceremony, featuring royal guards of honor and a 21-cannon salute.
In his arrival statement, Hu Jintao said both China and Britain are countries with time-honored history and splendid culture, and that there have been long-standing exchanges between Chinese and British peoples.
He said in recent years, the Sino-UK relationship has maintained a sound growth momentum, and cooperation in various fields has produced fruitful results. The further development of the nations' comprehensive strategic partnership is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples.
Hu said he is looking forward to an in-depth exchange of views with British leaders on bilateral relations and current major international and regional issues, as well as having extensive contact with British people from all walks of life.
Britain is the first leg of the Chinese president's European and Asian trip, during which he will also visit Germany, Spain and the Republic of Korea and attend the 13th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting from November 18th to 19th.
Hu, Blair reach consensus
Chinese President Hu Jintao and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have reached consensus on promoting the existing comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to a higher level. The two leaders also pledged to promote China-EU relations, saying they are of major significance to world peace, stability and prosperity. And they witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation agreements.
During their talks at No. 10 Downing Street, President Hu Jintao said the establishment of the strategic partnership between China and Britain in 2004 ushered in a new stage in their bilateral relations.
The president also suggested that the two countries look to the long-term strategic development of the relationship by maintaining the current momentum of high-level exchanges, particularly the annual meetings of the leadership and foreign ministers, as well as exchanges between legislative institutions and political parties.
Hu Jintao called for political dialogue and co-operation on global issues such as sustainable development, poverty alleviation, climate change, and free trade within the multi-lateral frameworks of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and the Asia-Europe Meeting.
The Chinese president also suggested that co-operation be further expanded from the current priority areas of trade and investment, finance, energy, science and technology, education and culture, environmental protection and sustainable development, to include cooperation on bird flu prevention and preparations for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Blair said he fully recognized the strong momentum in bilateral relations, and added that the Chinese president's visit would definitely push forward the overall cooperation between the two countries.
He said his visit to China in September had reassured Britain that China's rapid development is not a threat, but an important opportunity.
In his capacity as EU president, Blair added that the European Union attaches much importance to furthering its relations with China, and will make further efforts to address issues of China's concerns.
After the meeting, Hu and Blair attended the signing ceremony of the joint communique of the fifth meeting of the Sino-British Trade and Investment Joint Committee as well as documents on aviation cooperation.
China, Germany vow to improve ties
Chinese President Hu Jintao has held talks with his German counterpart, Horst Koehler, in Berlin. They vowed to work together to push forward their bilateral partnership.
Hu says China welcomes more investment from Germany, and is actively promoting exchanges and cooperation in science and technology, education, culture, and environmental protection. Koehler says Germany cherishes its friendly relations with China and hopes to expand exchanges and cooperation. They also exchanged views on support for African countries and signed several documents on cooperation between their two nations. Hu arrived in Germany on Thursday afternoon, after a state visit to Britain. After Germany, he will head to Spain and South Korea.
Hu Jintao visits Spain
Chinese President Hu Jintao has arrived in Spain for a two-day state visit. This is his third leg of European-Asian trip. Upon arriving in Spain, Hu met the former International Olympic Committee President, Juan Antonio Samaranch, and toured the facilities of a local telecommunications company.
The plane carrying the Chinese president and his delegation touched down in Spain at noon on Sunday.
Shortly after arriving, Hu Jintao addressed to a welcoming crowd, highlighting Spain's history, culture and contribution to the progress of human civilization.
He added that the friendly exchanges between China and Spain date back a long time.
Hu said political relations between the two countries are becoming stronger, since the establishment of bilateral ties over 30 years ago.
The bilateral economic and trade cooperation has also been fruitful and contacts and exchanges in all fields have steadily increased.
Hu stressed that China attaches great importance to developing relations with Spain and is ready to further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, in the interests of both peoples.
During his talks with the former IOC president, Hu touched upon the China-Spain Forum.
He said the forum has become an important platform for promoting Sino-Spanish cooperation, since it came into being about two years ago.
Hu praised Samaranch, the Spanish co-chairman of the forum, for his painstaking efforts to ensure the smooth running of the forum.
Hu also highly commended Samaranch for his support in the development of the Olympics in China.
He said Spain has gained a rich experience in hosting the Olympics and other major sports events.
China and Spain can bolster exchanges and cooperation in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Samaranch said he is proud to have helped the development of the Olympics in China and is convinced the Beijing Games will be a success.
The Chinese president also toured the facilities of Spanish telecommunications company Telefonica, in the northern suburbs of Madrid.
Hu said Telefonica and Chinese telecom companies can complement each other with their own advantages, and achieve mutually beneficial and win-win results.
The Spanish Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Jose Montilla, greeted Hu during the president's visit to Telefonica, saying Spain is looking forward to expanding cooperation with China.
As one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world, Telefonica has forged increasingly closer relations with China in recent years.
Hu arrived in Spain after visiting Germany and Britain. His last stop will be South Korea.
Editor:Chen Source:CCTV.com
