On October 23, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao met at the Great Hall of the People respectively with some of the foreign leaders who are here for the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit to be held on Oct. 24 to 25.

When meeting with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Hu said China and Indonesia are good neighbors and strategic partners and the bilateral ties have been developing continuously. Hu said China would like to work with Indonesia to enrich the contents of the bilateral strategic partnership. He suggested the two sides reach consensus of and consequently implement the action plans of the bilateral strategic partnership as soon as possible. He urged both sides to give full play to the role of bilateral cooperation mechanisms and explore new ways and approaches of developing the ties. Both sides should also earnestly advance and expand cooperation on economy, trade, infrastructure construction and humanities for the benefit of both peoples and strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs. Hu also called for cooperation in energy and food security, climate change and anti-terrorism between the two countries.

Susilo hailed the rapid development of bilateral cooperation in areas of politics, economy and judicature since the two countries signed a joint declaration on strategic partnership. He agreed with Hu on framing the action plans of bilateral strategic partnership at an early time, calling for a long-term strategic cooperation on energy, electronic and information technology, infrastructure, finance and others.

Hu said the current world economic situation was "complicated and severe." Emerging markets and developing countries were facing unfavorable global environment, including financial risks, weak external demand and rising inflation pressure, he said. "We are willing to strengthen exchange and cooperation with Indonesia, supporting each other to face the current challenges together and make contributions to the regional financial stability and healthy economic development."

Susilo said his country would like to work with China and other countries in the region, implementing the Chiang Mai Initiative, a swap arrangement fund through which ASEAN economies can help one another, so as to help the countries which are heavily influenced by the financial crisis.

While meeting with Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Hu pointed out that China and Brunei have maintained friendly relations for generations and share a profound traditional friendship. He said since China and Brunei established diplomatic relations17 years ago, the bilateral relations had been greatly improved, and the two countries had maintained good communication and coordination in international and regional affairs. He said China was willing to further cooperate with Brunei in terms of transport, communications, energy, agriculture, infrastructure construction and tourism in order to promote Sino-Bruneian relations to a new stage. As Asia's coordinator, Brunei has undertaken a large amount of work in the preparations for the meeting and has given strong support to China’s hosting the meeting, he said, adding that China was willing to continue to cooperate with Brunei to achieve the meeting's success.

Hassanal Bolkiahsaid during the meeting that he was glad that the two sides maintained good relations and close cooperation. He hoped the two countries could enhance cooperation in terms of rice production and energy development. He said the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit is held at a crucial time. As Asia's coordinator, Brunei was willing to contribute to the meeting's success.

During his meeting with Finnish President Tarja Halonen, Hu applauded the stable and healthy development of the Sino-Finnish relations since the two nations established diplomatic relationship 58 years ago. The two peoples have always held friendly feelings towards each other. Further more in recent years, the political mutual-trust of the two nations had been enhanced with fruitful cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, telecommunications, paper-making, energy conservation and environmental protection. History proved that Finland was a good friend and partner that China could trust in. China cherishes ties with Finland and would like to strengthen cooperation with Finland on international affairs and push for the sustained, in-depth development of the Sino-Finnish relations, so as to achieve mutual benefit and a win-win situation for the benefit of both peoples in the economic globalization, he said. China is ready to enhance cooperation with Finland on international affairs, he added.

Halonen said Finland and China share a lot of common interests and both sides have conducted fruitful cooperation in all areas.Finland was willing to share its experience with China on wastewater processing and recycling, and renewable sources of energy, said Halonen. Commenting on the current global financial crisis, Halonen said China had played a constructive role in the development of world economy and had given important support to the global response to the crisis. Finland also hoped to further cooperate with China on strengthening the function of the United Nations, promoting the development of Africa and coping with climate changes, she said.

While meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Hu said China and Italy had maintained good momentum in bilateral ties as the political trust and coordination in major international issues strengthened. The trade structure of the two countries had been optimized, mutual investment had increased, and technology and environmental protection cooperation had been fruitful, he said. The holding of the Year of Italian Culture has promoted humanities and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Both sides should maintain high-level contacts, deepen political trust, strengthen trade and investment cooperation and expand humanities exchanges. He also called for closer coordination in international affairs to safeguard world peace and stability. Hu added the two countries would take the chance of the 7th ASEM Summit and the 11th China-EU Summit to improve contact between Asia and Europe, as well as China and the EU. He also called for cooperation with the international community to prevent financial crisis from being escalated and reduce its harm on the tangible economy, stave off a global economic recession, and find a way to reform the international financial system, so as to safeguard the stability of the world economy and the international finance.

Berlusconi said Italy and China both have a time-honored history of civilization and should have more cultural exchanges, adding that Italy will attend the 2010 Shanghai World Expo' and host the 2015 World Expo', and it will exchange experience with China in this regard. China's advocacy on building a harmonious world is conducive to promoting word peace and global prosperity, he said. Italy valued China's role in the international affairs and would work with China to prevent the financial crisis from bringing severe harm to the world economy.

During his meeting with Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Hu hailed the steady development of bilateral ties since the establishment of diplomatic ties. Both sides have witnessed high-level exchanges, increasing trade cooperation and dynamic exchanges in the fields of culture, education and judicature.Both sides have also shown mutual understanding and support on major international and regional issues. China-Malta relations have become a model of equality and friendship for countries with different social system and historical and cultural tradition. China attaches importance to ties with Malta, expressing hope that both sides will continue maintaining high-level visits and contacts, continuously improve the level of trade cooperation and build mutual understanding and friendship between both peoples so as to push for greater development of the ties. Currently China-EU all-round, extensive and multi-level cooperation has scored in-depth development. He hoped that Malta will continue to play its active roe to push for sound, steady development of China-EU ties.

Gonzi saidMalta and China have kept long-term exchanges with close political and trade ties and profound friendship. He hoped that both sides will continue to enhance cooperation on economy, trade, education and tourism. Calling Malta a good friend of China in the EU, Gonzi said his country looks forward to positive outcome to be achieved at the upcoming EU-China leaders’ meeting.

During his meeting with European Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, Hu said the significance of Sino-EU relations has surpassed the bilateral level and is of more and more international significance amid the current complex, changeable international situation and challenges facing the world. Strengthening strategic cooperation between China and the European Union (EU) conforms to the fundamental interest of both sides and will contribute to the world peace, stability and prosperity, Hu said. Currently China-EU relations are at an important stage of inheriting the tradition and facing up to the future. Hu confirmed that China is willing to work with EU to push forward their comprehensive strategic partnership. Hu put forward proposals in the following three aspects. First, he suggested both sides consolidate Sino-EU political base under the principle of strengthening strategic mutual trust and grasp the overall development of China-EU ties. Second, Hu urged both sides to promote concrete cooperation in various sectors in a reciprocal and win-win principle and actively explore meeting points of their interests. Third, he called for properly tackling key concerns and divergent opinions based on mutual respect and equal consultation to ensure long-term sound, stable development of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. Hu pledged that China is willing to reinforce communication and coordination with EU, jointly deal with the current financial crisis and maintain the stability of the global financial market.

Barroso said during the meeting that EU-China ties are strategic, strong and mature. The current financial, grain and energy crises, as well as climate change, poverty and terrorist threat require worldwide actions. He said EU appreciates China's responsible attitude in responding to the financial crisis and hopes to coordinate positions and enhance cooperation with China in reforming the international financial system and pushing the international conference on climate change in Copenhagen for positive achievements so as to contribute to global sustainable development.

State Councilor Dai Bingguo attended the above-mentioned meetings.