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Hu meets Greek president, vows to better bilateral ties
(Xinhua/Agencies)
Updated: 2008-11-25 09:42

Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) and his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias shake hands inside the Presidential palace after a news conference in Athens November 24, 2008. Hu is on a three-day official visit in Greece. [Agencies]

On multilateral cooperation, Hu said that China is ready to enhance communication and coordination with Greece within multilateral organizations such as the United Nations on major international issues including climate change, environmental protection, sustained development and hotspot areas.

Papoulias said he was pleased to see that Athens and Beijing hosted the two first Olympiads in the new century.

It's "encouraging" that China will continue to take measures to achieve trade balance with Greece, he said.

During the talks, Hu also briefed Papoulias on the G20 summit on financial markets and the world economy held in Washington and measures adopted by the Chinese government to boost domestic demand.

Papoulias said that Greece has always followed closely China's development and its role in the international arena.

China's stance expounded by Hu at the G20 summit showed "China's willingness to tackle the financial crisis along with the international community," he said.

Papoulias briefed Hu on the situation in the West Balkan region.

Hu said he hoped countries in the region will, from the long-term interest of their national development, address issues left by history through patient dialogues and build a West Balkan region of lasting stability, prosperity and development.