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Premier Zhu's Four Nation Tour Fosters Diplomacy: Foreign Minister
Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan described Premier Zhu Rongji's tour of Ireland, Belgium, Russia and Kazakhstan as an important diplomatic mission for the country.
The foreign minister summarized the four biggest achievements of Premier Zhu's visits:
Zhu's visit to Russia has enhanced the economic and trade ties with Russia. Seven signed agreements, including one on China's purchase of Russian civil planes and one on joint construction of a petroleum pipeline between the two countries, have cleared the way for concrete economic and trade co-operation.
The trade imbalance is the major problem, and Zhu and his Russian counterpart Kasyanov agreed that measures would be taken to solve the problem.
The fourth regular meeting between Zhu and EU leaders strengthened their ties in politics and security to safeguard world peace and stability. Both said they would try to expand exchanges and co-operation in trade, information technology, environment, energy resources and culture.
Both sides have also held frank exchanges on the question of Taiwan, Tibet and Falun Gong. The EU has explicitly declared that it will stick to its one-China stand and not support Taiwan's separation. The EU also said it will continue to hold talks with China on the basis of equality and mutual respect, though both still have differences in human rights issues. The joint statement said both will establish an all-round partnership.
The sixth regular meeting between the prime ministers of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization in Almaty, Kazakhstan, has started the process of multi-lateral economic and trade co-operation.
The meeting is the first of its kind since the organization was established in Shanghai. The signed referendum mapped out short-term and long-term goals for multi-lateral economic and trade co-operation.
The five prime ministers also issued a joint statement condemning the terrorist act in the United States and reiterating their resolve to fight terrorism.
Zhu's visit to Kazakhstan has reached a series of agreements on co-operation in such fields as trade, energy resources, transportation, environment and the use of cross-border river resources.
In his visit to Ireland, Zhu suggested that both would further co-operate in the areas of high-tech, culture and education.
Belgium's government will send an economic and trade delegation on an inspection mission to China's western region.
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