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Diplomatic activities to boost ties

By Zhao Huanxin (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-07 09:00

China is gearing up for a bonanza of diplomatic activities beginning this weekend, including a premier's trip to Egypt, a presidential visit to Malaysia and Singapore, and then a people's welcome to the president of the United States Barack Obama.

The priorities of each mission may vary, but by and large, they will focus on the themes of upgrading bilateral relations, enhancing coordination in coping with global challenges such as the financial crisis and climate change, and ensuring an open and just international trade environment.

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Regarding President Obama's Nov 15-18 trip to Shanghai and Beijing, Deputy Foreign Minister He Yafei's message is clear: China hopes the consensus the two countries reached in April in London on working together to build a "positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship in the 21st century" will be reiterated during the visit.

"As his first trip to China since taking office in January 2009, Obama's visit is an important event in bilateral relations and is important to the development of our relations," He said at a press conference on Friday.

As two big nations in the world, China and the US share extensive common interests on significant issues concerning peace and development, and enjoy wide cooperative prospects, he said.

The two countries should respect and take care of each other's core interests and great concerns so as to promote bilateral ties, he added.

Before meeting with his US counterpart, President Hu Jintao will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economic leaders' meeting on Nov 14 and 15 in Singapore, following a trip to Malaysia on Tuesday.

He said Hu would deliver a keynote speech during the APEC meeting and hold one-on-one meetings with some APEC member leaders.

The vice-minister said China expects the APEC meeting to come up with concrete plans to reverse the global economic downturn and revive the contracting economy.

Luo Yongkun, a researcher with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said that he believed Hu's reciprocal visit to Malaysia is worth "anticipating".

During Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's June visit to China, the two countries signed a landmark joint action plan on strategic cooperation. Hu's trip to Kuala Lumpur would translate more of the plan into action, he said.

Guo Jiguang, with the Asia-Pacific Studies Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the meetings between top Chinese and Malaysian and Singaporean leaders will further improve the rapport between China and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Malaysia is the biggest ASEAN trading partner for China and Singapore is the largest in the 10-nation bloc to invest in China.