At the invitation of Prime Minister Bertie Ahern of the Republic of Ireland, Prime Minister Guy Verhosdat of the Kingdom of Belgium, Prime Minister M.M.Kasyanov of the Government of Russian Federation and Prime Minister Kassymzhomart K. Tokayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Premier Zhu Rongji will pay an official visit to Ireland, Belgium, Russia and Kazakhastan from September 2 to 15, 2001. During his visit, Premier Zhu will respectively attend the fourth Sino-European Summit meeting, the sixth regular meeting between the Prime Ministers of China and Russia and the first Prime Ministers’ Meeting of the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

During his visit, Premier Zhu will have extensive and in-depth exchange of views with leaders of the above-mentioned four countries and the European Union on the development of bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common concern. He will also discuss with leaders of other member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization over economic and trade cooperation and the development of the Organization. Some important cooperation documents will be signed during the visit.

Premier Zhu’s visit will further promote the friendly cooperative relations between China and the aforesaid four countries and the EU, and enhance the healthy and steady development of the multilateral economic and trade cooperation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the new century.