On November 4, 2005, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said in Beijing that President Hu Jintao will soon kick off his state visits to United Kingdom (UK), Germany, Spain, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) with the goal to promote mutual trust, expand consensus, advance cooperation and strengthen friendship.

At the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II, German President Horst Koehler and Spanish King Juan Carlos I and ROK President Roh Moo-hyun, President Hu Jintao will pay state visits to the four nations from November 8 to 17.

While briefing Chinese and foreign journalists on the background and significance of Hu's visits, Li said that China gives top priority to developing the friendly relation with UK, Germany, Spain and ROK. During his visit, President Hu will meet the leaders of the 4 nations and have broad contacts with the people from all walks of life to discuss the programs of lasting significance to bilateral relations in a bid to promote the all-round exchanges with these nations. President Hu will deliver speeches on many important occasions, introducing the policies related to peaceful development of China.

Li said that since the establishment of comprehensive strategic partnership between China and UK in 2004, the leaders of the two countries have maintained close contacts; the exchanges between parliaments, political parties and peoples are increasing; and the cooperation have witnessed constant progress in the following 6 areas: trade and investment, finance, energy, science and technology, education and culture, environmental protection, and sustainable development. President Hu's visit to UK will help strengthen mutual trust and expand exchanges and cooperation with UK.

Li said that the political trust between China and Germany is strengthening; the economic and trade cooperation is expanding; both countries have become the largest trading partners of each other in their respective regions; the bilateral cooperation has seen productive results in such field as culture and education, science and technology, environmental protection, and legal affairs; and the two countries have maintained sound communications and coordination in major regional and international affairs. The visit of President Hu will help advance China-Germany strategic partnership for further growth.

While talking of China-Spain relationship, Li said that the cooperation between China and Spain in multiple fields and at various levels has brought substantive benefits to the two peoples. The bilateral economic and trade cooperation is ever expanding. The two-way investment is showing a growing momentum. The cooperation in such fields as science and technology, culture, education and tourism has seen fruitful achievements. President Hu's visit to Spain will help enhance the overall level of China-Spain friendly and cooperative relation.

Li said that in recent years the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and ROK is developing fast. China and ROK are important trading and investment partners of each other. The bilateral cooperation in such fields as culture, education, science and technology, and people exchange is very robust. The two countries have maintained effective coordination with regard to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula as well as regional and international affairs including regional cooperation. President Hu's visit to ROK will further strengthen mutual understanding and trust between the two sides and enhance the level of mutually beneficial cooperation.

After winding up his 4-nation tour, President Hu will attend the 13th APEC Leaders' Informal Meeting to be held in Pusan, ROK from November 18 to 19.

Li said that APEC is the most influential regional economic forum in the Asia Pacific region. This time President Hu will attend the APEC Leaders' Informal Meeting, the Dialogue between Leaders and Representatives of APEC Business Advisory Council, the APEC CEO Summit and other important events, during which he will elaborate the views of the Chinese side on promoting the balance, stability and sustainable growth of global economy and the opinions on the priorities of cooperation and development direction of APEC, put forward the cooperation initiatives on preventing and treating the emerging infectious disease, and introduce the thoughts of China on economic development.

Li said that we hope the meeting could achieve progress on some hot issues such as supporting the healthy growth of multilateral trade system, strengthening trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, deepening and expanding economic and technological cooperation, and dealing with high oil price, bird flu and natural disasters.

"I believe that President Hu's 4-nation tour will be a productive one and make great contribution to the peace, development and cooperation undertaking of China and even the world, " Li said.

During the meeting, Li answered the questions raised by Chinese and foreign journalists. Present at the meeting were the Beijing-based journalists from the media of UK, Germany, Spain and ROK, Beijing-based journalists from international media, and Chinese journalists. They earnestly raised questions concerning current hot regional and international issues.