President Hu Jintao's upcoming state visits to Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines are important diplomatic missions that will strengthen China's friendly relations with the three countries and the China-ASEAN strategic partnership, said Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei at a Monday press briefing.
Invited by Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines, Hu will visit the three countries from April 20 to 28.
He will also attend the 2005 Asia-Africa summit and activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Bandung Conference at the invitation of Yudhoyono and South African President Thabo Mbeki.
Wu said Hu will meet with the three countries' state leaders and others to confer on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern.
In Indonesia, Hu and Yudhoyono will sign a joint declaration announcing the formal establishment of the China-Indonesia strategic partnership. The two sides will also discuss expanding cooperation in the fields of trade, technology and telecommunication.
With Arroyo, Hu will discuss promoting China-Philippines strategic ties, specifically in the areas of trade, transportation, infrastructure and resource exploration.
China was the major participant in the Bandung Conference 50 years ago. Hu's presence at the 2005 Asia-Africa summit and the activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of Bandung is of great importance to deepen China's friendly cooperation with Asian and African countries, Wu said.
Initiated by South Africa and Indonesia, the Asia-Africa Summit will be held in Jakarta on April 22 and 23. Fifty-six heads of state and government have confirmed their attendance, and around 25 member countries of the Non-aligned Movement, mostly from Latin America, 20 subregional organizations and several donor countries will attend as observers.
The slogan of the summit is "Reinvigorate the Bandung Spirit, Working Toward Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership."
(Xinhua News Agency, China.org.cn April 19, 2005)
