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Hu meets foreign counterparts ahead of Beijing Games

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-07 19:22

BEIJING -- Chinese President Hu Jintao met on Thursday morning with five of his foreign counterparts, all guests to the opening ceremony of the impending Beijing Olympic Games.

The five included Laotian President Choummaly Saygnasone, Serbian President Boris Tadic, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Montenegro President Filip Vujanovic, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with President of Laos Choummaly Saygnasone during their meeting in Beijing, China, Aug. 7, 2008. [Xinhua]

Meeting with the five leaders successively in the the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing, Hu first extended a warm welcome to the guests on behalf of the Chinese government and people.

"China is ready to work with Laos to carry forward their traditional friendship and deepen mutually-beneficial cooperation, so as to push forward bilateral ties and benefit the peoples of both countries," Hu told his Laotian counterpart.

China and Laos can achieve a win-win outcome through tapping economic complementarities, as China is encouraging its enterprises to invest overseas and Laos is trying to make a better use of its rich resources, said Hu, adding that China would help Lao's development as much as its own capacity allows.

The Laotian president thanked China for all the past support and assistance, and expressed the hope that the two sides further strengthen their friendly cooperation.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with President of the Republic of Serbia Boris Tadic during their meeting in Beijing, China, Aug. 7, 2008. [Xinhua]

In his meeting with President Tadic, Hu pointed out that it is the common aspiration of the Chinese and Serbian peoples to consolidate and deepen friendly cooperation between the two countries, which will also serve the fundamental interests of both peoples.

"China would like to strengthen political dialogue and promote pragmatic cooperation with Serbia, and will encourage and support domestic enterprises to invest in Serbia," said Hu.

China also understands and supports Serbia's efforts to integrate with the rest of Europe, he added.

Pledging that Serbia will always be China's friend, President Tadic told Hu that Serbia hoped to see closer economic and trade ties with China and more mutually-beneficial cooperation in areas like infrastructure construction.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during their meeting in Beijing, China, Aug. 7, 2008. [Xinhua]

Meeting President Lukashenko, Hu said that China and Belarus have treated each other with candor and sincerity in the past 16 years since the two countries established diplomatic ties, and have supported each other on major issues concerning national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"The Chinese side is ready to further deepen the comprehensive friendly cooperation between the two countries on an equal and mutually-beneficial basis, and will continue to encourage Chinese businesses to go to Belarus for investment and trade," he added.

Lukashenko agreed that the two countries are "sincere friends," and expressed the hope that the two sides would further deepen friendly and mutually-beneficial cooperation in all areas.

In their meeting, the Chinese and Montenegro presidents agreed that the China-Montenegro relationship has progressed smoothly since the two countries established diplomatic ties more than two years ago.

"China appreciates Montenegro's active efforts for maintaining stability in the West Balkan region, and hopes that all countries in the region can properly solve problems left over by history through dialogues," Hu said, adding that China encourages domestic enterprises to invest in Montenegro and join in the infrastructure development there.

President Vujanovic said that Montenegro and China have broad areas of cooperation, while his country hopes to see more cooperation with China in the energy sector and infrastructure construction.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during their meeting in Beijing, China, Aug. 7, 2008.  [Xinhua]

While exchanging views on bilateral ties and other issues of common concern with President Lula, Hu said that it is of great significance for China and Brazil, two major developing countries, to enhance bilateral cooperation and improve coordination in international affairs.

"China welcomes Brazil's recent initiatives to promote economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. The Chinese market is open to Brazilian products," Hu added.

The Brazilian president responded that Brazil is committed to deepening its strategic partnership with China.

The two leaders also agreed that the two countries should make efforts to push for the early resumption of the Doha round negotiations.

More than 80 heads of state and government and royals are expected to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, scheduled for Friday night in the National Stadium, better known as the Bird's Nest, in north Beijing.