China values North-South leaders' informal dialogue meeting
( 2003-05-27 10:00 ) (8)

China attaches great importance to the leaders' informal dialogue meeting between the North and the South initiated by French President Jacques Chirac, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said here Tuesday.

At a regular press conference, Zhang said that Chinese President Hu Jintao would attend the Group of Eight meeting, to include some developing countries, which China regarded as a very good opportunity for exchanges between the developed and developing countries on current economic and development issues.

The meeting would focus on the present international economic situation, including issues of world economic growth and globalization, which are all matters of urgency faced by all countries, she said.

China hoped that the leaders would have candid dialogues on major development issues on the basis of openness, pragmatism and equality, so as to contribute to the integrated recovery and soundgrowth of the world economy through enhanced international cooperation, the spokeswoman said.