Hu Arrives in Canada for State Visit, G20 Summit

Chinese President Hu Jintao flew into Ottawa, capital of Canada, Wednesday for a state visit, and later he will travel to Toronto for a summit of the Group of Twenty (G20), which aims to secure the global economic recovery and address economic challenges and risks.

Hu was greeted at the airport by Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon. During his visit, Hu will meet Canadian Governor-General Michaelle Jean and Prime Minister Stephen Harper and exchange views on the development of China-Canada relations and major world and regional issues of mutual interest, Chinese diplomats said.

The two countries will sign a number of cooperation documents during Hu's visit, they said.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of China-Canada diplomatic ties. China and Canada are both influential countries in the Asia-Pacific region, sharing extensive common interests and broad prospects for cooperation.

During the past 40 years, the two countries have expanded bilateral cooperation in various areas, such as economy, trade, energy and resources, culture, education and environmental protection.

In September 2005, President Hu paid a state visit to Canada. And last December Prime Minister Harper paid his first visit to China since he took office in 2006.

During Harper's visit, President Hu and other Chinese leaders met Harper and had an in-depth, candid and productive exchange of views on China-Canada relations and major international and regional issues of mutual interest, finding consensus in many areas.

The two sides agreed to work together to further promote China-Canada cooperation in all bilateral areas and international affairs, as bilateral relations enter a significant new era.

At present, China is Canada's second largest trade partner while Canada is China's 13th. In 2009, their two-way bilateral trade reached $29.7 billion.

In the first four months of this year, bilateral trade stood at $10.2 billion, an increase of 19 percent over the corresponding period last year.

"Canada and China are laying the groundwork for a new decade of growth by deepening cooperation in a wide number of areas," said Canadian Prime Minister Harper in a statement on Hu's visit last Friday.

"It is a fitting tribute to 40 years of diplomatic relations based on mutual respect and collaboration," he said.

From Ottawa, President Hu will travel to Toronto to attend the G20 summit.

Hu attended the Washington summit in November 2008, the London summit in April 2009 and the Pittsburgh summit last September.

At the previous three summits, leaders of G20 members coordinated global response to the financial and economic crisis, implemented stimulus measures to restore the world economy, and agreed on actions to strengthen financial regulation and the reform of international financial institutions. They also agreed to promote trade and resist protectionism.

The interventions by G20 members have effectively mitigated the impact of the crisis, and promoted a quicker transition to economic recovery.

"The G20 Toronto Summit will focus on recovery from the global economic and financial crisis and the implementation of commitments from previous G20 summits, while laying the foundation for sustainable and balanced growth," says a document entitled "G20 Toronto Summit" issued by Canada, the host of the summit.

A senior Chinese official said that at the Toronto summit over the weekend, the leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of issues, such as the world economic situation, the European debt crisis, the Framework for Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth, the reform of the international financial institutions, the world trade and the strengthening of financial regulations.

"China hopes that the G20 members at the Toronto summit would fully implement the Framework for Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth and enhance communication and coordination of macro-economic policies to support the global economic recovery," said Cui Tiankai, vice foreign minister of China, at a press conference last Friday.

He said that G20 members should push the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to finish a new round of quota reform to give more representation to emerging markets and developing countries before the Seoul summit in November this year, improve the international financial system and deepen the reform of the international regulatory system.

At Toronto meeting, the G20 leaders should pay greater attention to development problems and provide political support to the United Nations' high-level meeting on the Millennium Development Goals in September this year, and oppose trade protectionism and promote the completion of the Doha round of trade talks, he added.

Established in 1999, the G20 consists of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, Britain, the United States and the European Union.

(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2010)