President's G8 presence, Sweden visit fruitful - FM

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-06-11 17:15

BEIJING -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Monday that President Hu Jintao's attendance of the outreach session of the G8 summit and his state visit to Sweden, are pragmatic, effective, and fruitful in promoting dialogue and deepening cooperation.

In an interview with the Chinese media, Yang said that they have been major diplomatic events since the start of 2007, during which President Hu, on more than 30 occasions, expounded China's stand on such major international issues as climate change, exchanged views with Swedish leaders and leaders of the G8 and other developing countries, and put forward a series of proposals.

-- President Hu put forward proposals on South-South coordination to promote the unity of and cooperation between developing countries.

Developing countries should continue to work for the establishment of a sound international economic order and foster an enabling financial, trade and energy environment, Hu said, at the collective meeting of leaders of five developing countries, namely China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico.

Hu also urged developing countries to strive to increase their say in the format, agenda and outcome of the dialogue and their representation in international economy so as to establish a new global partnership for development based on equality, mutual benefit and a win-win model.

-- President Hu called on the international community to promote balanced and stable growth of the world economy.

Imbalances in the global economy and growing uncertainty in the international financial market have increased risks in the world economy, Hu said at the outreach session of the G8 summit.

He called on members of the international community to bear common responsibilities and take the initiative to reduce such imbalances by expanding domestic demand, cutting fiscal deficit, speeding up structural adjustment and accelerating institutional reform.

Developing countries should adopt development strategies and policies in light of their national conditions and speed up economic development while developed countries, on their part, should increase assistance, reduce and cancel debts, open markets and transfer more technologies to developing countries, he said.

He stressed on the efforts to narrow the North-South gap and the importance of sustainable development, which he said can only be achieved by striking a balance between economic growth, social progress and environmental protection.

-- President Hu's systematic elaboration of China's stand and position on climate change promoted the international community's understanding of China's strategy toward sustainable development.

President Hu told the outreach session that climate change is an environmental issue, but it is, in essence, a development issue, which occurred in the course of development and should be resolved in the context of sustainable development.

He called for adherence to the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" established in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

He stressed that China has enhanced its law-making and enforcement efforts to tackle climate change. Education programs on the issue have been launched nationwide to raise public awareness, pledging an active part in international cooperation in tackling climate change. China has also strengthened cooperation with other developing countries within the framework of South-South cooperation.

The Chinese president's remarks were positively echoed by all parties concerned at the session.

-- President Hu's meeting with 12 foreign leaders at the G8 summit boosted cooperation between nations concerned on international affairs.

At the outreach session, President Hu had in-depth discussions with 12 foreign leaders on a broad range of issues. They agreed to enhance political dialogue, strengthen mutually beneficial economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and coordination on international affairs.

He also conducted in-depth exchanges of views with the leaders at the summit on major international and regional issues such as the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula, the Iranian nuclear issue, the issue of Sudan's Darfur region and the Kosovo issue.

Applauding China's positive role on the international scene, the foreign leaders agreed to boost coordination with China to jointly safeguard world peace and security and promote common development.

-- President Hu's visit to Sweden strengthened China-Sweden cooperative relations.

President Hu's visit is the first state visit to Sweden by a Chinese head of state since the two countries established diplomatic ties 57 years ago.

During his three-day stay in Sweden, Hu met with the Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Parliament Speaker Per Westerberg, held talks with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, attended a ceremony for the return of the replica of Gotheborg from a China voyage and made an important speech at a welcome dinner hosted by the Sweden-China Trade Council.

Stressing China-Sweden ties be handled from long-term and strategic perspectives, Hu reached a broad consensus with the Swedish side on increasing political dialogue, expanding pragmatic cooperation in economy and trade, and conducting exchanges in areas of innovation in science and technology, and sustainable socioeconomic development, as well as on advancing China-EU relations and promoting contacts and coordination on international affairs.

The Chinese foreign minister said that President Hu's presence at the outreach session of the G8 summit and his state visit to Sweden have achieved the intended goals.

It is a successful diplomatic event that has expanded consensus, promoted mutual understanding, and advanced a win-win outcome for all parties concerned, he added.



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