Chinese leaders' foreign tours boost world peace,development

Special reports: President Hu visits five Asian, African

nations

Special: Chinese Vice President Xi

Jinping visits five Latin American countries and Malta

alt="Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) talks with Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz during their meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 10, 2009."

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Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao (L)

talks with Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz during their meeting

in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 10, 2009. (Chinese media/Rao Aimin)
Photo

Gallery

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Chinese media) -- The visits by Chinese

leaders to developing nations in Africa, Latin America and Asia at the beginning

of the Chinese lunar new year were highlighted by the international media and

conveyed far-reaching significance to the world.

Chinese President Hu Jintao concluded visits to four African

nations and Saudi Arabia on Feb. 17, and Chinese Vice President Xi

Jinping finished his tour to five Latin American nations and Malta on Feb. 22.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R)

meets with Speaker of Jamaica's House of Representatives Delroy Chuck (L)

and President of Jamaica's Senate Oswald Harding (C) in Kingston, capital

of Jamaica, on Feb. 12, 2009. (Chinese media/Huang Jingwen)
Photo Gallery

During the visits, made at a time when the effects of

the international financial crisis is being felt worldwide, the Chinese leaders

and leaders of the host countries enhanced political trust, promoted friendship,

and reached consensus on strengthening economic and trade ties as well as

deepening reciprocal cooperation.

More than 20 agreements were signed between China and

the five host nations during Hu's tour, covering fields such as trade,

investment and infrastructure. Many bilateral agreements, aimed at boosting

all-around partnerships in cooperation with Latin American nations, were also

signed during Xi's trip.

In the face of the global economic crisis, China, as

the biggest developing country, joined hands with other developing countries to

boost morale and rise united to deal with the challenges.

It is noticeable that China adopted the active stance

despite its own difficulties due to the crisis.

In Africa, Hu pledged that China, within its ability,

would continue to increase aid and grant debt relief to African countries and

broaden trade and investments in the continent.

The promise showed China's courageous and

conscientious attitude and was highly appreciated by African countries.

Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete noted that China is now the most

popular partner of developing countries.

In addition, China strengthened cooperation and

coordinated action with developing countries on reform of the international

financial system.

Hu extended support for the African Union's

participation in the G20 summit, called for more representation of developing

nations in the international economic and financial fields, and stressed the

need for the international community to be concerned about and try to minimize

the suffering of developing countries, especially the least developed countries,

in the current crisis.

The views and stands, which reflected the appeals of

developing countries, won broad support from leaders of the host countries.

At this time of crisis, when adjustments and changes

to the world order pattern pick up speed, the significance of China and other

developing countries in the economy becomes ever more evident.

China and other developing countries have always been

sincere and supportive of one another politically, and trading complementarily

to seek common economic development, has made them emerge in the international

arena as one group.

Especially in recent years, developing countries,

represented by new economies, have been holding increasingly greater weight in

the world economy.

The current economic crisis has put almost all major

developed economies into recession. At present, world economic growth is mainly

fueled by such emerging economies as China, India and Brazil.

Surely neither developed nor developing countries can

handle the impact of the economic crisis alone in the current era of economic

globalization, and the Chinese leaders' spring tours have served well the

purpose of promoting coordination and cooperation among Asian, African and Latin

American countries.

Such reciprocal and win-win cooperation would be both

conducive to an early exit from the ongoing financial crisis, and to helping

steer the development of the world economic order in a more justified and

sensible direction, and hence world peace, development and stability.

Commentary: Chinese leaders make

shining success of foreign visits

BEIJING, Feb. 23

(Chinese media) -- The recent visits by Chinese leaders to 15 countries and the

European Union (EU) have proved extremely fruitful, promoting China's

traditional friendship with them and boosting people's confidence regarding the

future amid the ongoing global financial crisis. Full

story