President Hu Jintao will pay state visits to Russia, Kazakhstan and
Mongolia and attend the leaders' informal dialogue meeting between
the North and the South in Evian,France from May 26 to June 5,
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue announced in Beijing
Tuesday.
During his tour, President Hu will also attend the third Summit
Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member nations to
be held in Moscow, and the celebrations of the tri-centennial
anniversary of the establishment of the city of St. Petersburg,
Zhang said at a regular press conference.
During the multilateral events, President Hu will also meet with
leaders from some other countries.
This is the first overseas trip by the Chinese president since the
country's new central leadership took office.
During his visits, President Hu will have extensive contacts with
foreign leaders and noted figures from all circles, exchange views
with them in a deep-going way on bilateral relations and major
international issues of common concern, and sign a series of
important documents of cooperation.
Hu's visit will further enhance the friendly and cooperative
relationship between China and the relevant countries and will
promote regional and international cooperation, said the
spokeswoman.
President Hu has been invited by Russian President Vladimir V.
Putin, French President Jaques Chirac, Kazakhstan President
Nursultan A. Nazarbayev and Mongolian President Nachagyn
Bagabandy.
(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2003)