Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wife Ludmilla greeted
President Hu Jintao and some forty other world leaders arriving for
celebrations to mark the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg, in
front of the Bronze Horseman, a magnificent monument to Peter the
Great, the city's founder.
Before the welcoming ceremony, Hu met with Poland's President
Aleksander Kwasniewski, Greek PM Constantine Simitis and Canadian
Prime Minister Jean Chretien in succession on Friday afternoon.
During his meeting with Chretien, Hu remarked that China values its
relations with Canada, and the new government is ready to make
concerted efforts to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Both leaders also exchanged views on two countries' fight against
SARS.
Hu
said the Chinese Government, faced with the outbreak of the
disease, had always placed a priority on safeguarding the lives and
health of its people and had taken decisive and effective measures
to prevent and contain its spread.
As
experience has shown, the SARS epidemic can be prevented, treated
and controlled, Hu said, noting that the Chinese people are
determined and confident of winning the battle with the support of
the international community.
In
his talks with Simitis, also the current rotating chairman of the
European Union (EU), Hu said that it remains an important part of
China's foreign policy to develop relations with the EU.
Reaffirming China's support for the integration of the EU, Hu
stressed that China valued the union's vital role in international
affairs. He said the furtherance of bilateral relations between the
EU and China is not only of fundamental interest to both sides, but
also is conducive to establishing peace and stability in Asia and
Europe.
Hu
said he hoped that Greece would play an active role in promoting
ties between the EU and China.
Simitis said he is satisfied with the development of bilateral
trade and economic cooperation, which has witnessed a rapid
increase. For their part, said Simitis, the Greek Government is
willing to promote cooperation in areas of culture, tourism and
agriculture, and especially in regard to China's hosting of the
Olympic Games in forwarding bilateral relations.
Both leaders also exchanged views on the postwar reconstruction of
Iraq and the Middle East conflict.
Whilst meeting with Kwasniewski, Hu expressed his congratulations
in respect of Poland's membership to EU in April.
Hu
said China and Poland have neither unsettled issues nor basic
conflicts of interest, adding that China's new government will, as
always, endeavor to maintain and further develop friendly relations
with Poland.
Kwasniewski also expressed his confidence in the future of
development of bilateral relations, saying that Poland attached
importance to China's increasing influence in international affairs
and is willing to enhance exchanges and cooperation with China.
On
Saturday, Hu will meet Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
and Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Tokyo's relations with Beijing have been rocky since Koizumi came
to power in 2001, following his controversial visits to the
Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, but includes
several war criminals and is seen by critics as a symbol of its
militarism.
"China has attached great importance to summits between
high-ranking officials of China and Japan,'' Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said ahead of Hu's visit, saying
that China hoped Sino-Japanese relations can be steadily promoted
by direct contact between the leaders.
After attending the anniversary ceremony, Hu will go on to join the
leaders' informal dialogue meeting between the North and the South
(developed and developing countries) to be held at Evian of
France.
During the multilateral event, Hu is due to meet leaders of some
other countries and international organizations, including the
United States President George W. Bush.
(China Daily May 31, 2003)