BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao's just-concluded state visits to three Southeast Asian nations and his attendance at an Asian-African Summit has attained the targetsof deepening friendship, promoting cooperation, strengthening unity and seeking common development, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxingsaid Thursday.

    From April 20-28, Hu conducted state visits to Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines, and attended the 2005 Asian-AfricanSummit and the Golden Jubilee of the Asian-African Conference in Bundung, known as the historic Bundung Conference, in Indonesia.

    Li, who was accompanying Hu on the tour, told Chinese reportersthat Hu's trip is of the following characteristics:

    CONSOLIDATION OF TRADITIONAL FRIENDSHIP, STRENGTHENING OF RELATIONS

    During the visits, China and the three Southeast Asian nations reached broad consensus on further development of bilateral relations.

    Hu and Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei agreed in their talks to continue promoting the development of China-Brunei cooperation.

    In Indonesia, Hu and his Indonesian counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed a joint statement on the establishment of strategic partnership between their countries.

    In the Philippines, Hu and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo agreed on the establishment of a relationship of strategic cooperation dedicated to peace and development.

    These major developments have contributed to bringing China's traditional friendship and relations with the three Southeast Asian nations to a new stage of development.

    STRENGTHENING OF COOPERATION, PROMOTION OF COMMON DEVELOPMENT

    Hu's three-nation tour saw the signing of nearly 30 cooperationagreements covering a wide range of fields from politics, economy and trade, security, science and technology, culture, public health, disaster relief, personnel flow to non-governmental exchanges.

    In particular, Hu proposed that efforts be intensified to promote trade between China and the three nations. He specificallyproposed that China's annual trade with Brunei reach 1 billion US dollars by 2010, that trade with Indonesia amount to 20 billion USdollars in two to three years, and trade with the Philippines 30 billion US dollars by 2010.

    The mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the thesecountries will inject new vigor into bilateral relations, benefiting the peoples and promoting national development, said Li.

    PROMOTING REGIONAL COOPERATION, STRENGTHENING PEACE AND STABILITY

    Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines are all important member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Hu stressed that China is willing to strengthen good-neighborliness with ASEAN countries to achieve common development and prosperity and promote coordination over regional and international issues.

    Hu also said that China supports the integration of ASEAN and supports ASEAN's efforts to play a leading role in the cooperativeprocess of East Asia.

    Hu said China is willing to boost cooperation in East Asia and push forward the process of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.

    As to the South China Sea issue, Hu said China is willing to shelve disputes and engage in joint development to transform the South China Sea into waters of friendship and cooperation between China and ASEAN.

    The leaders of the three Southeast Asian countries all spoke highly of the constructive role China has played in regional issues and expressed their willingness to work with China to create a better future for the region.

    NEW ASIAN-AFRICAN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

    At the Asian-African Summit, Hu set forth China's stance on a New Asian-African Strategic Partnership, saying nations of the twocontinents can be partners in four aspects: to politically respecteach other and support each other; to economically create a win-win situation by pooling each other's strengths; to culturally learn from each other; and to cooperate in security on the basis of equality and mutual trust.

    He said developing countries should enhance coordination in international economic affairs and promote South-North dialogue and cooperation so as to deal with the challenges of globalization.

    Those proposals have won approval of all Asian and African leaders attending the gathering.

    At the summit, Hu also briefed Asian and African leaders on China's economic development. He stressed that China is adopting ascientific concept of development and is striving for sustainable development and a harmonious society.

    He said China will stick to a path of peaceful development and commit to world peace.

    On the sidelines of the summit, Hu held bilateral talks with a number of heads of state or government and reached broad consensuson furthering friendly ties. Enditem