On the afternoon of June 4, Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai, at the invitation of the International Press Center, gave a briefing to domestic and international journalists as well as information officers of foreign embassies in China, introducing President Hu Jintao's upcoming attendance at the outreach session of the G8 summit and state visit to Sweden. Director-General Liu Jianchao of the Information Department hosted the briefing.
At the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Hu will attend the outreach session of the G8 summit to be held in Heiligendamm from June 6 to 8, said Cui. As suggested by the host country, the session this year will mainly discuss topics of world economy, investment and social responsibility, intellectual property right protection, development and climate change. The Doha round of multilateral trade talks as well as international and regional issues of common interest might also be covered. Five countries, i.e. China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico are invited to attend the session, and the African countries including Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana and Senegal and a number of international organizations such as the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, World Trade Organization and International Energy Agency are invited to join the five countries during the luncheon following the session.
Cui noted that it is the fourth dialogue between the G8 and leaders of developing countries. All the topics to be covered in the dialogue are related with urgent and important international issues which have bearing on the healthy, stable, coordinated and sustainable growth of the world economy and require the joint efforts of developed and developing nations to seek solutions. We hope the dialogue would help enhance South-North dialogue and cooperation, push forward multilateralism, facilitate the solution of global issues, create a favorable environment for the growth of developing nations and contribute to the common development of all countries.
China's dialogue and exchanges with G8 have deepened in recent years, said Cui. President Hu has attended four sessions between G8 and leaders of developing countries. China has held a series of ministerial dialogue with G8 in the fields of fiscal policy, finance, energy and health. In the long run, to strengthen the dialogue and cooperation between China and G8 is in the interest of both sides and conducive to world peace, stability and development. During the session, China expects to make joint efforts with all the parties concerned to exchange in-depth opinions on the serious issues under the background of globalization, discuss how to conduct pragmatic cooperation and achieve win-win results in the spirit of equality and partnership.
Cui added President Hu would have a busy schedule during the outreach session. He will address the session and luncheon on June 8, elaborating China's opinions on the current international economic and political situation and propositions on the major issues concerning international development including climate change. On June 7 President Hu will participate in the meeting of leaders of China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico, expounding China's views on the cooperation among developing nations under new situation and exchange opinions with the leaders on issues of common concern. He will also meet with leaders of related countries to exchange views on bilateral ties and international issues of common interest.
On President Hu's visit to Sweden, Cui said at the invitation of King Carl XVI Gustaf President Hu will pay a state visit to Sweden from June 8 to 10. It is the first time that a Chinese head of state visits Sweden since the two countries established diplomatic ties 57 years ago, which is of great significance in the history of China-Sweden relations.
Cui stressed the relationship between China and Sweden has maintained a sound momentum of development in recent years. The second visit to China of King Carl XVI Gustaf last year further enhanced the mutual understanding and political mutual trust between the two nations. China's economic and trade ties with Sweden move forward steadily. In 2006, the bilateral trade volume reached US$6.73 billion, up 18% over the previous year. Sweden is China's ninth largest trade partner within the EU, and China has been Sweden's biggest trade partner in Asia for 4 years in a row. The bilateral trade volume increased by 26.7% in the first four months this year and maintained a sound momentum of growth. Both countries enjoy fruitful cooperation in areas such as science and technology, culture and environmental protection and active exchanges at local level. They also keep close communications and collaboration on major regional and international issues.
During the visit, President Hu will hold meetings with Swedish King Gustaf, Speaker Per Westerberg and Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt respectively, reviewing the development of bilateral ties, making plans for future development and exchanging in-depth views on international and regional issues of common concern. He will also meet with people from all circles of the society, attend a ceremony of the returning of the replica of the 18th century Swedish merchant ship "Gotheborg" from a China tour and deliver an important speech at the dinner held by Sweden-China Trade Council. During the visit, the two sides will sign a number of cooperation agreements on environmental protection and other subjects.
Cui said the visit of President Hu will further strengthen bilateral political mutual trust, promote mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, enhance the friendship of the two peoples and push the bilateral ties to a new level.
Then Cui answered questions of the journalists.
Q: When President Hu attends the outreach session, what new propositions and measures will China raise on climate change and environmental protection?
A: Climate change is one of the priority topics of the session and draws wide attention from all parties concerned. When participating in the session President Hu will explain China's opinions and propositions on climate change. Later we will publish the full text of this important speech. Please pay close attention to it.
As far as climate change is concerned, China's population makes up one fifth of the world total. Among every 5 people who are influenced by climate change there is one Chinese. The Chinese government attaches great importance to the issue and addresses it in the spirit of being responsible for the Chinese people, the entire mankind and the generations to come. You might have noticed that we emphasize the implementation of a scientific concept of development which implies accelerating the building of an energy-saving and environmentally friendly society, pushing for energy-efficient, clean and safe development and achieving sustainable growth. The harmonious coexistence between mankind and nature is also a major requirement of building a harmonious socialist society.
The Chinese government has and is adopting major measures to cope with climate change and protect the environment. I have mentioned President Hu would elaborate China's propositions on this issue in his speech to the session, and you may read them then. Furthermore, such propositions are explained comprehensively in the "eleventh five-year" plan of China and the government report of Premier Wen Jiabao to the National People's Congress. This morning Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission Ma Kai announced the national report on climate change, and you may also read it.
In general, over the almost thirty years since China's reform and opening up the awareness and ability of environmental protection and concept of sustainable growth of China and its people have been strengthened, which well demonstrates that development and environmental protection should and can promote each other and it is possible to realize the harmonious development of people and nature.
China will continue to follow the road of sustainable development resolutely. We are active force for and player in international cooperation in this regard and support cooperation with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Tokyo Protocol as the main channel under the framework of sustainable development. It should be noted that poverty can never solve environmental or climate problems. Without the economic and social progress and capacity building efforts of developing nations, to cope with global warming will remain empty words. The developed countries were big emitters in history and their per capita emission is high today. With fund and technological strength, they therefore should faithfully fulfill their emission reduction commitment and provide the developing countries with tangible help in terms of capital and technology transfer. That's why the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" is set in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. We believe this principle lays down the foundation for international cooperation in fighting climate change in the future.
Q: Does China think the G8 imposes pressure on it in the areas of intellectual property right protection, climate change and China's policy with Africa when formulating the agenda?
A: The G8 is a mechanism composed of developed countries. It holds the outreach session with leaders of developing countries in recent years, which shows their will of strengthening South-North dialogue and cooperation. We welcome such a move and have attended the past sessions. To ensure the success of the session the participants must have the spirit of equal partnership. I don't think this session is a platform for imposing pressure on any country. This should never happen at all. I also don't believe it complies with the common consensus of the G8 nations.
Q: Some people think China has not contributed to the balanced development of world economy. Will China make more efforts in the future?
A: There is indeed some imbalance in the world economy, but it is neither caused by China nor could be corrected by China alone. It requires the joint efforts of the international community to maintain the stable and balanced growth of world economy so as to benefit all countries and realize common development. China of course is ready to make constructive contributions, but this issue cannot be addressed by China alone.
Q: Will China hold meetings with the other four developing countries on issues of common concern?
A: Yes, the leaders of the five developing countries attending the outreach session will hold a collective meeting on the afternoon of June 7, and the agenda has been finalized. Last year a similar session was held in Saint Petersburg. During the session the leaders of developing countries can exchange in-depth opinions on issues of common concern and problems related with the outreach session, including the dialogue and partnership with G8 in the future. We believe such a session is useful.
Q: Do you think China's policy with Africa will be criticized?
A: China and African countries enjoy a friendly and brotherly relationship which has been maintained after the founding of the People's Republic of China and since the 1950s. It should be said that such a relationship is widely acknowledged in the international community and welcomed by African countries. Some people are always ready to criticize others. It is their business whatever they want to say, but it is another story whether what they say is true or not.
