Hu arrives in Evian for South-North leaders dialogue
( 2003-06-01 18:40 ) (8)

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived on Sunday for an informal South-North dialogue meeting between the heads of state or government of 11 developing countries and the leaders of the Group of Eight (G8).

President Hu's delegation arrived by boat from Lausanne, Switzerland.

French President Jacques Chirac personally received President Hu and his delegation at the dock, where hundreds of people cheered President Hu's arrival.

The two leaders briefly waved to onlookers and took limousines to the luxurious Hotel Royal on the picturesque Lake Geneva for face-to-face talks.

The informal South-North leaders dialogue meeting is scheduled to open later Sunday for discussions on cooperation, development, environment, public health and other issues of common concern.

President Hu, along with the heads of state or government from Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa, Senegal, Mexico, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and India, as well as leaders of the G8 countries, the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization, will attend the informal dialogue meeting.

The G8 comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.

Later on Sunday, the G8 leaders will also hold talks with leaders of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, which groups Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa and Senegal.

Sessions among the G8 leaders will be held on Monday and Tuesday.

Globalization, environment, debt relief, anti-terrorism, the Iraq issue and aid to Africa will top the agenda of this year's G8 summit.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing recently, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said that China believed the informal South-North leaders dialogue meeting is necessary at this moment.

The meeting is also of great importance to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, Zhang said.

"I think this holds important significance for the early recovery of the world economy, world development and cooperation among countries," she added.

Chirac has scheduled a special focus of the informal South- North dialogue meeting on Africa, with initiatives to write off the debt of the poorest countries, and promote the fight against AIDS and access to cheap medicines and clean water in the developing world.