From November 8 to 19, 2005, Chinese President Hu Jintao paid a state visit to Britain, Germany, Spain and South Korea and attended the thirteenth Informal Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM). On November 19, prior to leaving Busan Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing who accompanied Hu throughout the visit told reporters that during the 12 days of visit President Hu took part in over 70 events. With a tight schedule and rich content, President Hu's visit achieved fruitful results.

I. Expanding consensus, building up mutual trust and enhancing relations between China and the four countries.

Britain, Germany and Spain are important members of the European Union (UN) and South Korea is a friendly neighbor of China. The four countries all treat and develop relations with China from a strategic perspective. During his visit President Hu and the leaders of the four countries exchanged in-depth views and reached extensive consensus on deepening bilateral relations under the current international situation. The Chinese and British leaders agreed to strengthen political dialogue and cooperate in bilateral and international affairs so as to constantly raise the bilateral all-round strategic partnership to higher levels. Senior leaders of the German government pledged to maintain the continuity of their Chinese policy, actively push forward cooperation and enrich the connotation of Germany-China partnership with global responsibility. China and Spain issued the first joint communiqué since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and decided to establish the all-round strategic partnership, which marks a new stage for bilateral relations. The leaders of Britain, Germany and Spain reiterated to consolidate and advance the all-round strategic partnership between EU and China. Chinese and South Korean leaders stressed to continue deepening bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields in a bid to promote the development of all-round China-South Korea partnership.

II. Deepening existing cooperation, opening new areas for cooperation and injecting energy into the comprehensive development of bilateral relations.

Britain, Germany, Spain and South Korea are all important trade as well as economic and technological partners of China. Last year, China's trade volume with the four countries accounted for about 15% of China's total. Among them Britain is China's biggest investor in EU, China and Germany are the largest trade partner to each other within their own regions and China is the biggest trade partner of and receives the largest amount of investment from South Korea. To expand the economic and trade cooperation with the four countries is of great importance to China's modernization. During his four-country tour, President Hu pointed out that the sustained and rapid growth of Chinese economy opens great potential for the economic and trade cooperation between China and the four countries. Both sides should complement each other with their own advantages, promote bilateral trade and investment, broaden technological cooperation, properly handle the problems emerging in the process of rapid growth of bilateral economic and trade relations and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results. The leaders of the four countries fully agreed with President Hu's opinion. South Korea declared recognition of China's market economy status.

During the visit China signed altogether 37 cooperation documents with the four countries covering a wide range of areas including politics, culture, judiciary, fiscal affairs, finance, aviation, railway, project, renewable energy, science and technology and quality inspection, which fully demonstrates the width and promising prospects of bilateral cooperation. China and Britain agreed to expand cooperation in such new areas as health, sports and Olympic Games preparation. China signed agreements on culture with Germany and Spain respectively and President Hu Jintao and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder also jointly laid the foundation stone for the Chinese Cultural Center in Berlin. The agreement on mutual legal assistance and extradition reached between China and Spain has demonstrative value. Leaders of China and South Korea emphasized to continue expanding exchanges and cooperation in various fields. All these will boost the development of China's relations with the four nations.

III. Actively advocating regional cooperation and jointly coping with global challenges.

President Hu Jintao delivered important speeches on multiple occasions including the thirteenth AELM, APEC CEO Summit and ABAC Dialogue with Leaders, elaborating China's opinions about promoting the balanced, stable and sustained growth of global economy and proposition on the cooperation priorities and development direction of APEC. He called on the international community to effectively cope with the unbalanced development of global economy, push forward the healthy progress of multilateral trade mechanism, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, reach the Bogor Goals as scheduled and deepen and expand economic and technological cooperation.

President Hu stressed that China attaches great importance to prevention and control of bird flu and has adopted a series of active measures. He appealed to the members of APEC to take effective steps to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, reinforce epidemic prevention assistance and control the spread of the epidemic disease. He said that China will hold the APEC Seminar on Emerging Infectious Diseases in Beijing April next year.

President Hu also introduced China's energy development strategy, highlighting that China, as a big consumer as well as a major producer of energy, will comprehensively enhance saving and efficient use of energy resources. China is ready to work with the rest of the world to expand energy development, deepen energy cooperation, improve energy efficiency and promote the development and use of new energy.

President Hu's proposals and initiatives drew wide attention and were fully reflected in the leaders' declaration passed at the AELM. All parties concerned make positive remarks on the efficiency, transparency and responsible attitude demonstrated by China when tackling the bird flue issue and its efforts of promoting international cooperation in this regard.

During attendance at APEC meetings President Hu also reached consensus with leaders of Russia and Chile on further developing China-Russia and China-Chile relations. In particular, the free trade agreement signed between China and Chile will boost the rapid growth of bilateral economic and trade cooperative relations.

IV. Actively expounding China's adherence to the road of peaceful development and receiving wide understanding and support.

On both bilateral and multilateral occasions, during meetings, talks, speeches and addresses President Hu comprehensively expounded China's principles and policies of guiding economic and social progress with a scientific concept of development, pursuing a coordinated and sustainable development road and keeping committed to building a harmonious society. He stressed that China is still a developing country, insists on taking development as the top priority and concentrates on economic development. China's development is peaceful, open and cooperative and China will always be a firm force for maintaining world peace and promoting common development. Leaders of all countries make highly positive remarks on the great achievements of China's social and economic development and active role in international affairs and generally believe that China's development presents opportunities instead of threats and is beneficial to world peace and development.

Li said that President Hu's visit and attendance at the APEC meetings, with great significance and far-reaching influence, reached the objectives of building up mutual trust, expanding consensus, strengthening friendship and promoting cooperation.