Jiang Zemin Leaves for "Shanghai Five" SummitState President Jiang Zemin left Beijing Monday afternoon to attend the annual "Shanghai Five" Summit of State leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to be held in Dushanbe and pay a state visit to Tajikistan at the invitation of Tajikistan President Emomali Rakhmonov.The leader will also pay a state visit to Turkmenistan following the end of the summit at the invitation of Turkmenistan President Saparmurad Niyazov. Since 1996 state leaders of the five countries have met four times and the five countries have had fruitful cooperation in numerous areas. They have made great contribution to peace and development of the region and the world as well, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhu Bangzao said earlier. Members of Jiang's entourage include Vice-Premier Qian Qichen, Minister in charge of State Development Planning Commission Zeng Peiyan, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng, Deputy director of the General Office of the Central Committee the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Director of Central Guards Bureau You Xigui. Among those who saw Jiang and his party off at the Great Hall of the People were Chinese State Vice-President Hu Jintao, Vice-Premier Li Lanqing, Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Wannian, Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee Zeng Qinghong, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Tomur Dawamat, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Chen Junsheng, Director of the General Office of CPC Central Committee Wang Gang, Minister in charge of Central Foreign Affairs Office Liu Huaqiu, and Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi. Diplomatic envoys of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan also saw Jiang off at the Great Hall of the People. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/ |