On the afternoon of November 5, 2004, Vice Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong and Assistant Foreign Minister Shen Guofang held a briefing for the journalists from home and abroad and press officers of foreign embassies in China at the invitation of International Press Center (IPC), introducing to them President Hu Jintao's attending of the Informal APEC Summit and visit to the four Latin-American countries. Deputy Director-General of the Information Department Zhang Qiyue chaired the briefing.

Zhou said that this visit is the first one to Latin-American countries by the new-generation of top Chinese leader and it is of great significance to pushing for the long-term, steady and all-round development of relations between China and the four Latin-American countries, namely Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Cuba and to promoting the further upgrading of overall ties between China and Latin-America.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 30 years ago, China and Brazil have witnessed smooth development of bilateral ties. Brazil is the first developing country that established strategic partnership with China. Bilateral economic and trade relations are developing rapidly, the two countries are becoming each other's largest economic and trading partners in their respective regions and bilateral cooperation in other areas also scores fruitful achievements.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-Argentina relations have developed continuously. In particular after the launch of comprehensive cooperative partnership in 2001, the two sides have maintained continuous high-level exchanges and seen exchanges and cooperation in economy, trade, education and other areas increasingly enhanced.

Chile is the first country in South America that established diplomatic ties with China. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 34 years ago, bilateral relations have gained long-term development. The mutual political trust between the two countries is strengthened, cooperation areas are continuously expanded and they maintain good cooperation in multi-lateral affairs. Currently, Chile is China's third largest trading partner in Latin America and China is Chile's third largest trading partner in the world.

China and Cuba established diplomatic ties in 1960 and Cuba is the earliest Latin-American country that established such ties with China. The two countries maintain sound collaboration in political affairs, economy, trade, science, technology and culture. The two sides support each other on significant issues involving their respective sovereignty and territorial integrity and keep close cooperation in the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations.

Zhou introduced that during the visit, President Hu will hold talks with the heads of state of Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Cuba, meet with parliamentary leaders of the four countries and exchange in-depth views with them on developing bilateral ties and international and regional issues of common interest. President Hu will also deliver speeches at the parliaments of Brazil and Argentina and engage broadly with personnel from various social sectors including economic, trade, scientific and technological ones and relevant local leaders of these four countries, so as to push for friendly exchanges and cooperation with them in various fields. The two sides will sign a range of cooperation documents and it is believed that this visit will strongly upgrade China-Latin America friendly cooperative relations to a new stage.

On President Hu's upcoming attending of the 12th Informal Summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Shen said that as an important economic cooperation forum in the Asia-Pacific region, APEC, since its inception over 10 years ago, has played an irreplaceably important role in pushing forward regional trade and investment liberalization and strengthening economic and technological cooperation among members. In recent years, APEC adapts to changes of the situation, continuously explores cooperation areas, enriches cooperation connotations and continues playing its important role in enhancing economic, trade and personnel exchanges in the Asia-Pacific region. Its role is increasingly confirmed and given attention by all parties.

This year under the chairing of the hosting country Chile, the APEC members continue to conduct cooperation and score positive results in two major areas, namely trade and investment liberalization and facilitation as well as economic and technological cooperation, while centering on the theme of "one family, our future". Over the past one year, APEC issued the independent declaration which contributes to pushing the Doha round of negotiation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to reach framework agreements; integrated the free-trade agreement into the working agenda and launched related "optimal approach model"; opened the Second Trade Security Meeting which further deepens counter-terrorism cooperation among members; initiated the APEC anti-corruption cooperation process; discussed and implemented a large number of reform measures so as to enhance the effectiveness of the organization.

President Hu Jintao will mainly elaborate China's views on the current international and regional situations, propositions on global and regional cooperation and suggestions on the APEC's future development and put forward China's concrete cooperation initiatives on energy, finance and economy.

During his visit, President Hu will hold bilateral meetings and exchange views with some of the leaders of APEC members on bilateral ties and other international and regional issues of common concern. The relevant meetings are under arrangement.

Shen Guofang said that with the acceleration of globalization today, the trade and investment contacts among the APEC members are getting increasingly close and their inter-dependence is continuously enhanced. We expect through this meeting, we can further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with the other members and work along with them to promote economic development of Asia-Pacific and realize common prosperity. We believe that with the joint efforts of all parties, this year's Informal APEC Summit will surely be able to make a great success.

Following the briefing, Vice Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong and Assistant Foreign Minister Shen Guofang took questions from the journalists respectively.