Hu arrives in Singapore for state visit, APEC meeting

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived here on Wednesday for a state visit and the Economic Leaders Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

During his state visit, Hu will meet with Singaporean President S. R. Nathan, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and other senior officials, said Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Hu Zhengyue at a news briefing last Friday.

"President Hu will exchange views with Singaporean leaders on deepening mutually beneficial and cooperative ties to expand cooperation in key sectors of the two countries, and discuss international and regional issues of common concern," he said.

China and Singapore set up diplomatic ties 19 years ago, and since then bilateral cooperation has expanded steadily in various sectors.

Singapore is a key cooperation partner of China. Bilateral trade reached 52.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2008, up 10.5 percent over the previous year. In October last year, the two countries signed a free trade agreement, which came into force two months later.

In Singapore, Hu will also attend the Economic Leaders Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Cooperation (APEC) and elaborate China's proposition on economic, trade and other major issues.

Under the theme "Sustaining Growth, Connecting the Region," leaders at the Singapore meeting will address the major issues related to overcoming the global financial crisis and promoting a sustainable economic recovery in the post-crisis world.

Established in 1989, APEC has 21 members, which account for about 41 percent of the world's population, 56 percent of the world GDP and about 49 percent of the world trade.

APEC's 21 member economies are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, China's Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.

The Chinese leader flew into Singapore from Malaysia where he concluded a state visit.

Source: Xinhua