Hu to take 'peaceful rise' diplomacy to APEC (AFP) Updated: 2005-11-14 11:34
Chinese President Hu Jintao will be aiming to portray China's growing
regional and global strength as a "peaceful rise" at the upcoming APEC summit,
officials and analysts said.
During the two-day Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' forum in
South Korea starting on Friday, Hu will pledge China's constructive contribution
on issues such as trade, North Korea and fighting terrorism, they said.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) waves as he
walks with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos upon his
arrival at Madrid, November 13, 2005. Hu arrived on Sunday for a two-day
state visit to Spain. [Reuters] | But he will likely snub a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi.
"President Hu will exchange ideas about further promoting balanced, stable
and sustained growth of the global economy and China's priorities for APEC,"
China's Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told journalists.
"We hope that this meeting will achieve progress in supporting the healthy
development of the multilateral trading regime ... while also addressing the
question of high oil prices, bird flu and natural disasters."
Hu arrives in South Korea on Wednesday for an official state visit before
attending the APEC summit in the city of Busan.
A series of bilateral meetings with APEC leaders are being arranged during
the summit, officials said.
Hu is currently on a tour of Europe. Before that he was in Vietnam and North
Korea. At each stop he has attempted to emphasise his nation's peaceful rise as
an economic and global power.
"China's development will be peaceful, open and
cooperative," Hu said in London last week.
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