Chinese president meets 11 foreign leaders on eve of Beijing Olympics(1)

2008-08-08 10:40:03 [ Big Normal Small ]    　Comment

BEIJING, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Just one day ahead of the grand opening of the Beijing Olympic Games, Chinese President Hu Jintao had a very tight diplomatic schedule on Thursday, meeting separately with leaders from 11 foreign countries in the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.

The eleven included Laotian President Choummaly Saygnasone, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, DPRK top legislator KimYong Nam, Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, Serbian President Boris Tadic, Montenegro President Filip Vujanovic, and Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos Horta.

All the foreign leaders have come to the Chinese capital to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, scheduled for Friday evening in the National Stadium, popularly known as the Bird's Nest, in north Beijing.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, President Hu extended a warm welcome to all the leaders, and thanked them for supporting the Beijing Olympic Games.


Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with President of Laos Choummaly Saygnasone during their meeting in Beijing, China, Aug. 7, 2008. Choummaly Saygnasone is here to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games and other events. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Meeting with his Laotian counterpart, Hu said that the two countries 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.

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 Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during their meeting in Beijing, China, Aug. 7, 2008. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is here to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games and other events. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

While exchanging views on bilateral ties and other issues of common concern with the Brazilian president, 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.


Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika during their meeting in Beijing, China, Aug. 7, 2008. Abdelaziz Bouteflika is here to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games and other events. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

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