President Hu Jintao's first trip to Latin America in his capacity as head of State later this month is expected to push several bilateral relationships to a new level, Vice-Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong said on Friday in Beijing.

Hu will have a one-on-one summit with newly re-elected US President George W. Bush during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Santiago, Chile, Zhou told a press conference.

The Chinese president is scheduled to visit Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Cuba from November 11 to 23, during which he will attend APEC's 12th informal leadership meeting, according to the ministry.

"President Hu will confer with heads of State of the four countries and parliamentary leaders on developing bilateral relations, and exchange views on international and regional topics of mutual interest," Zhou said.

The tour is of great importance to forging ahead a steady, long-term and all-round Sino-Latin American relationship, the vice-minister said.

The visit will see China sign a number of agreements and other documents with the four countries.

"(I) believe the visit will vigorously push the Sino-Latin American friendship to a new stage," Zhou said.

Zhou said Hu's meeting with Bush, the first since the recent US election this week, will "have undoubtedly great bearing on developing Sino-US relations in the coming four years."

Hu is expected to expound China's principle and stance on making concerted efforts to enhance Sino-US constructive cooperative relations, according to Zhou.

The two will likely touch on problems in the relationship between the two countries, he said.

The US side has also said Bush is looking forward to meeting with President Hu, and arrangements are under way to ensure the success of the summit, according to Zhou.

The Taiwan question will inevitably become a major topic for the two presidents, Zhou said.

Zhou said China hoped the US will work with it to curb separatist activities in Taiwan.

Assistant Foreign Minister Shen Guofang on Friday said Hu will put out a proposal on expanding energy cooperation among APEC members during the Santiago gathering.

The initiative calls for members to brave the challenges in the fluctuations of the energy market and escalating fuel prices through government dialogues, capacity building and industrial cooperation, and by strengthening collaboration in developing new energies and conducting energy poverty alleviation, Shen said.

Hu will also propose establishing an APEC financial and development centre to contribute to financial cooperation in the region, Shen said.

(China Daily November 6, 2004)