Foreign Minister to Attend East Asia-Latin America Forum, Visit France

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan will attend the first ministerial meeting of the East Asia- Latin America Forum in Chilean capital Santiago from March 29 to 30.

This was announced by Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao Tuesday.

Zhu said that Tang is invited by his Chilean and Singaporean counterparts, Maria Soledad Alvear Valenzuela and Shunmugam Jayakumar.

Zhu also announced that Tang will pay an official visit to France from March 31 to April 2 at the invitation of his French counterpart Hubert Vedrine.




East Asia- Latin America Forum (EALAF)

The formation of a forum between East Asia and Latin America was proposed by Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong when he visited Chile in October 1998.

The main purpose of the proposed East Asia -Latin America Forum (EALAF) would provide a broader platform for political, business and other leaders to exchange views and ideas on how to address problems and issues confronting the two regions, and to promote better understanding , dialogue and cooperation between countries in the two regions.

The Inaugural Meeting of the EALAF was held in Singapore from 1-3 September 1999.






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