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Foreign Ministry Officials on Premier Zhu Rongji's Visit to Four European and Asian Countries and Attendance at the Prime Ministers' Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization(27/08/2001)
2004-08-16 18:34

On the afternoon of August 24, Deputy Director-General Zhang Qiyue of the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a briefing at the International Press Center and invited Deputy Director-General Zhang Tuo of the Department of Western European Affairs and Deputy Director-General Zhou Li of the Department of Eastern European and Central Asian Affairs to talk about Premier Zhu Rongji’s upcoming visit to Ireland, Belgium, Russia and Kazakhstan and attendance at the Fourth Sino-European Summit Meeting in Brussels and the Prime Ministers’ Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Alma-Ata. About 30 foreign correspondents based in Beijing and some press officers of foreign missions were present.

Mr. Zhang first said that Premier Zhu is to pay a formal visit to Ireland and Belgium at the invitation of Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and Belgium Prime Minister Guy Verhosdat, and attend the Fourth Sino-European Summit Meeting according to the annual leaders’ meeting mechanism reached by China and the EU in 1998. During his visit to Ireland, Premier Zhu will hold talks with Prime Minister Ahern and meet the Irish President and speakers of the parliament and business leaders. Afterwards, Premier Zhu will travel to Brussels to hold the Fourth Sino-European Summit Meeting with Prime Minister Verhosdat of the EU chair nation and President Prodi of the EU Commission. During his visit to Belgium, Zhu will meet King Albert II and hold working talks with Prime Minister Verhosdat. Premier Zhu will also attend and host celebration activities marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Belgium and attend the welcoming banquet hosted by Belgian business leaders.

On the Fourth Sino-European Summit Meeting, Mr. Zhang said that since the annual meeting mechanism was established in London in 1998, leaders of the two sides have held three meetings, all of which are very successful and satisfactory to both sides. The agenda of the upcoming meeting will be the new China policy document issued by the EU in May. The document put forward many concrete proposals on developing relations with China. Premier Zhu will make a positive response to these proposals. Chinese and European leaders will also exchange views on other issues of bilateral relations and some regional and international issues. Moreover, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, Minister Shi Guangsheng of Moftec and Minister Xie Zhenghua of the State Administration of Environmental Protection will hold counterpart talks with European officials and exchange views on some concrete issues respectively.

On China-EU relations, Mr. Zhang said that China attaches great importance to developing relations of mutual benefit and cooperation and puts the EU in a very important position in its external exchanges, mainly due to the following reasons. First, the EU is the most highly integrated regional political and economic organization in the world. It has reached remarkable progress in its internal development and plays a remarkable and prominent role on the international stage. Second, the EU is the largest community of developed countries in the world. It has rich capital, advanced technologies and a lot of entrepreneurial and management experiences, high complementary to the Chinese economy. Third, there is no direct fundamental conflict between China and the EU. Rather, they share the same or similar views on many international and regional issues. The changes in the international situation and the internal development inside China and the EU both require China and the EU to further strengthen cooperation, which is mutually beneficial.

At present, China-European relations are developing steadily, with smooth progress in political dialogue and consultation at all levels and ever expanding economic, trade, scientific and technological and educational areas. Bilateral trade is particularly remarkable, with China-Europe trade volume reaching US$ 36.9 billion in the first half of this year. The EU is China’s third largest trading partner and largest supplier of advanced technologies and equipment. The new China policy document issued by the EU Commission in May will benefit future cooperation between the two sides in all areas. However, due to differences in history, culture and value systems between China and Europe, it is normal that the two sides have some different views on certain issues. We propose to enhance understanding, seek common ground and solve differences through dialogue.

While taking questions from the press on Premier Zhu’s visit to Ireland, Mr. Zhang said that Ireland is the first leg of Premier Zhu’s visit. During the visit, Premier Zhu will fully exchange views with Irish leaders on how to expand bilateral cooperation in all areas and international and regional issues of common concern, and meet with the Irish business community to learn about the successful experiences Ireland has accumulated in its economic development. He will also brief them on China’s economic development. It is hoped that China and Ireland will seize opportunities and strengthen economic and technical cooperation. At present, China-Ireland relations are very good. After Prime Minister Ahern’s visit to China in 1998, the Irish government made the “Asia Strategy” and put China as one of the key cooperation partners. Areas of cooperation between China and Ireland are ever expanding, particularly in high-tech and education areas. Two-way trade volume has doubled every year, exceeding US$ 0.7 billion last year. The Chinese side is fully confident of China-Ireland mutually beneficial cooperation. We believe that both sides share a solid foundation and broad prospects.

As regards questions on Premier Zhu’s visit to Belgium, Mr. Zhang said that Zhu’s upcoming visit is the second one after his visit to Belgium in July last year. Premier Zhu will take the opportunity of the visit to brief the Belgian side on China’s current economic development and exchange views with them on how to expand economic and trade cooperation. The two sides will discuss other issues of bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common concern. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Belgium. During the past 30 years, China-Belgium relations have made remarkable progress. High-level contacts are frequent. The trade volume has increased from US$ 20 million in the initial years to US$ 3.6 billion last year, and is still growing at an annual rate of around 20%. AT the end of June this year, there are 358 Belgian projects, with actual investment of US$ 0.42 billion. On scientific and technological, cultural and educational fronts, bilateral exchanges and cooperation are equally fruitful.

Mr. Zhang said that Belgium is one of the initiators of the EU and its headquarters. It plays a very important role in European and international affairs. China attaches importance to developing friendly relations and cooperation with Belgium. Though there is no plan to sign governmental economic and trade agreements during the visit, the Chinese government will provide active support to any cooperation agreements the business communities of the two sides wish to seal. It is believed that the Belgian government will also support any efforts by the two business communities to strengthen economic and trade cooperation.

Mr. Zhou Li said that Premier Zhu will pay a formal visit to Russia and Kazakhstan and hold the sixth regular meeting with the Russian Prime Minister and attend the first Prime Ministers’ Meeting of the Member Countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The corresponds present were interested in Premier Zhu’s visit to Russia and Kazakhstan and his attendance at the first Prime Ministers’ Meeting of the Member Countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. As regards their questions, Mr. Zhou said that during Premier Zhu’s visit to Russia, the Prime ministers’ meeting will held in St. Petersburg, not in Moscow as are the customs. There are a lot of issues on the agenda of the Prime Ministers’ meeting, including issues of bilateral relations and international issues of common concern. During Premier Zhu’s visit to Russia, he will meet President Putin and Chairman Stroey of Russian Federal Committee, attend the luncheon held by the Russian business community and make a speech. State Councilor WuYi, the Chinese Chairman of the committee of the China-Russia regular prime ministers’ meeting, will arrive in Russia in advance and hold talks with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Klebanov so as to make preparations for Zhu’s visit. Mr Zhou said that China and Russia will sign a series of documents during the visit, including economic and trade cooperation projects. As missile defense is a hot issue in the current international relations, it might be covered by the Prime Ministers’meeting.

This is Premier Zhu’s first formal visit to Kazakstan. The purpose of the visit is to fully promote the development of China-Kazakhstan good-neighborly and friendly relations and cooperation in the new century. During the visit, Premier Zhu will hold meetings and talks with President Nazarbayev, Prime Minister Tokayev and house speakers, and fully exchange views with them on bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common concern. The talks will be focused on developing bilateral relations, economic and trade cooperation in particular. China-Kazakhstan economic relations and trade have been developing smoothly in recent years, with steady increase in bilateral trade volume, which reached US$ 1.5 billion last year, highest in history. At present, Kazakhstan has become China’s second largest trading partner in the Commonwealth of Independent States. The two sides are tapping the potential of bilateral economic cooperation.

The first Prime Ministers’ Meeting of the Member Countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is to be held according to the agreement reached by the six heads of state when the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was established. The major agenda is to profoundly explore how to conduct multi-lateral economic and trade cooperation among the members of the Organization. Economic globalization has become the main trend in the world situation. China, as a developing country, is ready to offset the negative impact of globalization through developing regional economic cooperation. This is also the common need of other members of the Organization. Facts show that ever since the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, its influence in the world is increasing. Multi-lateral economic and trade cooperation is a long-term process. We would like to work for that. Related documents may be issued after the Prime Minister’s meeting of the member countries.

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