Special Report: Hu Attends Financial Summit, APEC Meeting, Visits Four Nations

Related: Statement from G-20 Summit

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Saturday that the international community should enhance confidence and cooperation in efforts to cope with the current financial crisis.

    Hu made the remarks when meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Both were here to attend the Group of 20 summit on financial markets and world economy, which ended earlier in the day.

President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown during their meeting on the sidelines of the summit meeting of the Group of Twenty (G20) on financial markets and the world economy in Washington Nov. 15, 2008. (Xinhua/Fan Rujun) Photo Gallery>>>

    The international financial crisis is spreading and worse still, is infiltrating from the virtual economy into the real economy, Hu said.

    To cope with the crisis, Hu said efforts should be focused on three aspects:

    -- Effective measures should be adopted to prevent the further spreading of the crisis and help the market to regain confidence;

    -- Efforts should be made to minimize the adverse impact upon the real economy so as to avoid a global recession;

    -- Pushing ahead with the reform of international financial systems so as to avoid the recurrence of similar crises.

    China hopes that all countries in the world would make concerted efforts and achieve the goals set forth in the summit, he said.

    Brown said the summit has shown to the world that countries worldwide have addressed the crisis through closer collaboration and cooperation.

    He said there were lack of confidence, consumption remained weak and credit was still being tightened. He called for further measures to stimulate economic growth.

    Before the summit, China has announced a sweeping plan to expand domestic demand. The central government's investment, combined with that of businesses and local governments, would bring the total spending to 4 trillion yuan (about 586 billion U.S. dollars) by the end of 2010. Britain expressed appreciation for China's efforts to promote economic growth, Brown told Hu.

    He also said the two countries should strengthen cooperation and work with the rest of the international community to curb the further deterioration of the world economic and financial situations.

    The two leaders also exchanged views on bilateral ties. Thanks to efforts of both sides, mutual trust and consensus are growing and areas of cooperation are expanding, Hu said, adding that the Chinese side hopes the two nations would seize the sound momentum and push for the healthy and steady development of the Sino-British comprehensive and strategic partnership.

    Washington is the first leg of President Hu's five-nation tour. He will also pay state visits to Costa Rica, Cuba, Peru and Greece. During his stay in Peru, he will attend the Economic Leaders' Informal Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Lima.

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    WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Leaders from the world's major developed and emerging economies agreed here on Saturday to undertake a coordinated action to tackle the ongoing global financial crisis and explore measures to prevent similar crisis in the future. Full story

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    WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Leaders attending the G-20 summit on financial markets and the global economy on Saturday agreed to an action plan of immediate and medium-term measures to cope with the financial and economic woes now gripping the world.

    The tasks include strengthening transparency and accountability, enhancing sound regulation, promoting integrity in financial markets, reinforcing international cooperation, and reforming international financial institutions. Full story

President Hu: China to play constructive role in ensuring global economic stability

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- China will deepen reform and open wider to the outside world, deliver steady and relatively fast economic growth, and play a constructive role in ensuring global economic stability, Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Saturday.

    Responding to natural disasters and the global financial crisis, China has made timely adjustment to its policies and strengthened macroeconomic regulation, Hu said while addressing a summit of the Group of Twenty (G20) on financial markets and the world economy. Full story

Chinese president urges help for developing nations to cope with financial crisis

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    "When coping with the financial crisis, the international community should pay particular attention to the damage of the crisis on developing countries, especially the least developed countries (LDCs), and do all it can to minimize the damage," Hu told a summit meeting of the Group of Twenty (G20) on financial markets and the world economy. Full story

Chinese president calls for all-out efforts to restore global market confidence

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday urged the international community to take all necessary steps to promptly restore market confidence and stop the spread and development of the financial crisis.

    "The urgent task now is for the international community to continue to take all necessary measures to promptly restore market confidence and stop the spread and development of the crisis," Hu told a summit meeting of the Group of Twenty (G20) on financial markets and the world economy. Full story