President Xi Jinping holds talks with Chilean President Gabriel Boric at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 17, 2023. Gabriel Boric is in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and pay a state visit to China. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

CHILE

President Xi Jinping stressed on Tuesday the need for China and Chile to better align their development strategies, promote high-quality building of the Belt and Road, and foster new growth engines for bilateral cooperation in clean energy, the digital economy and sci-tech innovation.

In talks with Chilean President Gabriel Boric, Xi called for both sides to firmly support each other in pursuing development paths that suit their national conditions and safeguard each other's core interests and major concerns.

Beijing stands ready to enhance exchanges with Santiago in national governance experience and share its successful practices in poverty alleviation, green transitioning and environmental protection, Xi said.

China welcomes more high-quality agricultural produce and specialty products from Chile into the Chinese market, he said, adding that the nation will encourage more companies to take part in the construction of major projects in Chile.

He also expressed readiness to promote Chinese language teaching and learning, bolster bilateral cooperation at the local level, facilitate people-to-people exchanges, strengthen public support for bilateral ties and promote mutual learning between civilizations.

Xi underscored China's strong emphasis regarding its ties with Latin America, saying that Beijing appreciates Santiago's positive contributions to the development of China-Latin America relations and the construction of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum.

Boric said he hopes his visit will be an opportunity to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas such as environmental protection, poverty reduction, energy, technology and mining.

Chile supports China's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, he said, adding that his country hopes to become a hub for China's cooperation with Latin American countries and play an active role in promoting China-Latin America relations.

After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation agreements covering the Belt and Road Initiative, development cooperation, industrial investment, the digital economy, technological innovation, customs inspection and quarantine, agriculture, the Antarctic, and cooperation with small and medium-sized enterprises.

President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Indonesian President Joko Widodo prior to their talks in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 17, 2023. Joko Widodo is in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and pay a state visit to China. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

INDONESIA

President Xi Jinping hailed on Tuesday the tremendous benefits that cooperation between China and Indonesia has brought to the peoples of the two countries, saying that Beijing and Jakarta have set a good example for international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Xi made the remarks when meeting in Beijing with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Xi first proposed jointly building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in Indonesia in 2013.

He emphasized that China, together with Indonesia, will continue to view and develop bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, deepen all-around strategic cooperation and boost support for each other on issues of core interest and major concern, thus pursuing modernization paths suited to their respective national conditions.

Noting that the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway is a flagship project of China-Indonesia cooperation under the BRI, Xi called on the two sides to summarize their successful experiences, ensure the railway's high-quality operation and develop an economic corridor centered around it.

China supports the participation of its government bodies and enterprises in the construction of major projects such as Indonesia's building of a new capital, he said.

Xi expressed China's willingness to increase imports of high-quality agricultural and fishery products from Indonesia, strengthen cooperation in emerging industries such as the digital economy and photovoltaics, and proactively engage in exchanges and cooperation in areas such as food and agricultural technologies, poverty alleviation, healthcare and education.

China and Indonesia should closely coordinate to maintain the central position of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, promote open regionalism and fulfill the responsibility of major developing countries, in order to jointly promote reform of the global governance system and uphold international fairness and justice, Xi added.

Widodo, who is also paying a state visit to China, said his country regards China as a significant strategic partner and expects to further strengthen cooperation and mutual trust with China to develop a closer partnership.

The two heads of state jointly inaugurated the operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway after their talks.

President Xi Jinping meets with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 17, 2023. Tokayev is in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

KAZAKHSTAN

President Xi Jinping called on China and Kazakhstan to strengthen cooperation and achieve more results in jointly building the Belt and Road in order to better benefit their peoples, while meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Beijing on Tuesday.

Xi said that a healthy, stable and dynamic China-Kazakhstan relationship is conducive to the development and revitalization of the two countries, as well as to regional peace and stability.

Regardless of changes in the international situation, China and Kazakhstan should look out for and support each other, pass on the concept of good-neighborliness and friendship from generation to generation, and promote further development of the China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, he said.

Xi said China is willing to continuously facilitate trade and investment with Kazakhstan, increase imports of high-quality and green agricultural products from Kazakhstan, expand green energy cooperation and strengthen connectivity with efforts such as enhancing the capacity, scale and efficiency of China-Europe freight trains.

He encouraged the two sides to strengthen cooperation, enhance strategic synergy between the Digital Silk Road and Digital Kazakhstan, and boost exchanges in digital technologies such as cross-border e-commerce and big data.

Xi also called for stronger people-to-people and cultural exchanges and closer cooperation at the local level, noting that a mutual visa exemption agreement between the two countries will take effect and that the Kazakhstan tourism year in China will be launched next year.

Tokayev said that his country has been firmly supporting and proactively participating in the Belt and Road Initiative since the day Xi first proposed the joint building of the Silk Road Economic Belt 10 years ago in Kazakhstan.

He said Kazakhstan will deepen practical cooperation and strengthen people-to-people exchanges with China to jointly build the next golden three decades of China-Kazakhstan relations.

Tokayev spoke highly of China's impartial stance and active role in international affairs, including its efforts to promote the settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

President Xi Jinping meets with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 17, 2023. Aleksandar Vucic is in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

SERBIA

President Xi Jinping and visiting Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic pledged on Tuesday to boost pragmatic cooperation between China and Serbia in various fields, especially in joint construction of the Belt and Road, to translate the countries' traditional friendship into concrete cooperation results.

They witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents, including the midterm action plan for Belt and Road cooperation, a memorandum of understanding on industrial and investment cooperation and a free-trade agreement, after their meeting in Beijing.

During the meeting, Xi hailed the ironclad friendship between the two countries, saying that China-Serbia ties have withstood changes in the international situation, setting an example for friendly relations between China and European countries.

Xi emphasized that in the face of profound changes in the international landscape unseen in a century, both sides should view their relations from a strategic standpoint and long-term perspective, firmly support each other on their core interests and major concerns, and support each other in choosing their own development path.

China firmly supports Serbia in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and is willing to continue to strengthen alignment with Serbia on development strategies, transforming the traditional friendship between them into more practical cooperation results, he said.

Xi underlined the need for both sides to work together to build and operate the Hungary-Serbia railway project well, give full play to the economic and social benefits of projects such as the Chinese-invested Smederevo steel mill, and solidly promote cooperation in key areas such as infrastructure construction.

Both countries should actively explore new growth drivers for cooperation and comprehensively strengthen cooperation to renew their ironclad friendship in the new era, he added.

Vucic said he led a large delegation of the Serbian government to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, demonstrating Serbia's respect for, friendship with and the importance it attaches to China.

China has always respected and treated Serbia as a partner on an equal footing, and provided valuable support to Serbia when it was in times of difficulty, he said.

President Xi Jinping meets with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 17, 2023. Mirziyoyev is in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

UZBEKISTAN

President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China is willing to take the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative as an opportunity for China and Uzbekistan to learn from and support each other's national modernization drive.

Xi made the remark when meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Noting that China and Uzbekistan share similar goals and ideas for development, Xi said the two countries will inject more certainty and positive energy into regional peace and prosperity by jointly building a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future.

China supports Uzbekistan in maintaining sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and firmly opposes any force's interference in Uzbekistan's internal affairs under any pretext, he said.

Xi called on the two sides to put into place their medium-to-long-term cooperation plans in the economic, trade, and investment fields, promote cooperation in key areas, and create conditions for the early construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project.

China is willing to expand its imports of high-quality products from Uzbekistan and welcomes more young people from Uzbekistan to study in China, he said, adding that China is ready to provide more scholarships to the Uzbek side.

Xi also urged the two sides to set up cultural centers in each other's country at an early date, speed up the Luban Workshop project and promote experience exchanges and cooperation in poverty reduction.

China is willing to work with Uzbekistan to earnestly implement the outcomes of the China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an in order to contribute to the development and revitalization of the six countries, he added.

Mirziyoyev said his country regards China as a reliable partner and the Uzbekistan-China relationship has served as a model of good-neighborliness and mutual benefit for neighboring countries.

Uzbekistan hopes to learn from China's poverty reduction experience and deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields such as trade and investment, connectivity, renewable energy, agriculture and people-to-people exchanges within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, he said.

President Xi Jinping meets with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 17, 2023. Abiy Ahmed is in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and pay an official visit to the country. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

ETHIOPIA

President Xi Jinping called on Tuesday for China and Ethiopia to be friends who jointly promote common development and win-win cooperation as well as partners in enhancing South-South unity and cooperation and upholding international fairness and justice.

Xi made the remarks during a meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. He congratulated Ethiopia on joining the BRICS cooperation mechanism, saying that the East African country is an important participant in joint building of the Belt and Road.

Xi underlined the need for both countries to constantly consolidate their traditional friendship and mutual trust, and deepen pragmatic cooperation to achieve more fruitful results in promoting bilateral ties.

He emphasized that China supports Ethiopia in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests, and the two countries should continue to strengthen unity and cooperation and should firmly support each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns.

China is willing to strengthen practical cooperation with Ethiopia in various fields within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, support Ethiopia's postwar reconstruction and economic revitalization and enhance partnership in green development, he added.

Ahmed said that China is an important partner, and Chinese investment and other bilateral cooperation projects, especially those under the BRI, have effectively promoted Ethiopia's economic and social development.

Ethiopia's relationship with China is on the right path, and further strengthening bilateral relations is not only crucial for Ethiopia but also of great significance for South-South unity, he said.

Ahmed said that Ethiopia hopes to learn from China's experience in Party and State governance, and looks forward to further promoting the joint construction of the Belt and Road with China. Ethiopia welcomes more Chinese investment, he added.

The Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, all proposed by Xi, embody equality, openness and mutual respect, and they are conducive to promoting common development, said Ahmed.

The two countries issued a joint statement on the establishment of an all-weather strategic partnership.

President Xi Jinping meets with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 17, 2023. Viktor Orban is in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

HUNGARY

China and Hungary should make joint efforts to ensure the on-time completion and operation of the Hungary-Serbia railway project, build up the scale of cross-border e-commerce and expand cooperation in the information technology and new-energy sectors, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday.

Speaking during a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Beijing, Xi stressed China's commitment to promoting a deep synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative with Hungary's "Opening to the East" policy, and sharing development opportunities and achievements.

China stands ready to scale up imports of high-quality agricultural products from Hungary, and the two sides should make good use of cultural centers established in each other's countries, encourage language teaching and learning, and pass down the tradition of China-Hungary friendship to future generations, he said.

He commended Hungary for pursuing a friendly policy toward China and actively supporting the BRI.

China is willing to continue being a trustworthy friend and partner of Hungary, and take the China-Hungary comprehensive strategic partnership to new levels as next year marks the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, said the president.

While noting that cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries serves the common interests of both sides, Xi said that China is willing to work with Hungary to continue guiding this cooperation in the right direction, enriching its content and enabling the stable and long-term development of China-Europe relations.

Orban, who also took part in the previous two editions of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, underlined the contribution of Chinese companies, including the construction of the Hungary-Serbia railway project in spurring Hungary's socioeconomic growth.

He expressed steadfast support for the BRI and pledged continuous participation in the initiative, which he said has led to significant positive changes in the world and promotes global economic growth.

Hungary will continue to be a trustworthy friend and partner of China within the European Union, he said, adding that his country opposes any "decoupling" or "de-risking" practices and is willing to strengthen economic, trade, investment and connectivity cooperation with China.

President Xi Jinping meets with Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 17, 2023. Marape is in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and pay an official visit to China. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

China's assistance to Pacific island countries is part of South-South cooperation, and is characterized by sincerity and selflessness, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday during a meeting in Beijing with Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape.

Xi said that in conducting such assistance, China does not attach political conditions or seek exclusive rights, nor does it impose its will on others or make empty promises.

The nation fully respects the will and actual needs of Pacific island countries, and will continue to deepen cooperation with them and help them pursue long-term economic and social development, he added.

China appreciates Papua New Guinea's adherence to the one-China principle and its firm support for China on issues concerning its core interests and major concerns, he said, adding that China firmly supports Papua New Guinea in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests.

Noting that Papua New Guinea was the first Pacific island country to sign a memorandum of understanding and a cooperation plan for jointly building the Belt and Road with China, Xi said that construction of projects such as the Independence Boulevard in Port Moresby and the Butuka Academy have made positive progress, playing a leading and exemplary role in promoting cooperation between China and Pacific island countries in joint construction of the Belt and Road.

China is willing to continue to develop high-quality cooperation with Papua New Guinea on the BRI, share the development opportunities brought by Chinese-style modernization, align the development strategies of the two countries, strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, clean energy, climate change and other fields, and help Papua New Guinea achieve industrialization and modernization, he said.

Marape said that Papua New Guinea firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and China's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected.

Noting that strengthening cooperation with China is not only significant for Papua New Guinea but also for the world, he said the nation will continue to work with China to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership, and promote mutually beneficial cooperation between South Pacific island countries and China for a better future.