On the afternoon of May 15, 2009, Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese President, met at the Great Hall of the People with President of the Socialist International (SI) George Papandreou and his delegation to a seminar on sustainable development. Both sides held talks in a friendly atmosphere.

Hu highly appreciated the practice of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the SI to jointly hold a seminar on sustainable development and made positive comments on the relations between the CPC and the SI.

Hu said the relations between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the SI had been deepening and developing in recent years. A range of fruitful dialogue and exchange activities have not only promoted the CPC's relations with the SI as well as its member parties, but also pushed forward the ties between China and the nations of the SI members.

Hu said the SI was an important force in the international political arena, and shared many identical or similar views and proposals with the CPC on major issues like peace and development, as well as south-north cooperation. Hu said the CPC attaches importance to developing sound relations with the SI and its member parties and would enhance dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation with the SI to deal with the global challenges and make unremitting efforts for the building of a harmonious world of long-lasting peace and common prosperity.

Papandreou said the SI and its members speak highly of the sound momentum of China's economic and social development, adding that the organization attaches importance to and welcomes China's increasingly important role in international affairs. The SI and its members would improve exchanges and cooperation with the CPC and make contributions to safeguarding world peace and promoting sustainable development.

Wang Jiarui, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), and other officials attended the meeting.

The seminar on sustainable development co-sponsored by the CPC and the SI was held on May 15 in Beijing. The president of the Socialist International (SI), key members of the SI Commission for a Sustainable World Society as well as leaders of some SI member parties attended the meeting.