Chinese Foreign Policy: A Chronology April - June 2009 - Defence ...

promote the harmonious and steady growth of China-France relations.”1 April 2009 Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Dawei led a delegation to the Hague, Netherlandson 31 March to attend the international conference on Afghanistan. Wu announced thatChina would provide an “extra US$ 75 million of free assistance in the coming five years” toAfghanistan. While supporting counter-terrorism efforts, China nevertheless hoped that “at anearly date” the Afghan government and army would take over “the responsibility ofmaintaining their own national security and stability”. This would suggest that China is nothugely in favour of Obama’s ‘surge’ strategy. China, a member of the Shanghai CooperationOrganization (SCO), favoured an active role for the organization in Afghanistan: “Chinasupports the Organization to continue its active role in regard of the issue of Afghanistan.”During the conference, Wu also met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as well as foreignministers or representatives of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, the United States, Iran, India,and Romania, and had exchanges of views with them on Afghanistan.2 April 2009 Hu Jintao participated in the second G-20 Leaders Summit on FinancialMarkets and the Global Economy in London. Hu Jintao delivered a speech entitled"Cooperating Hand in Hand and Pulling Together in Times of Trouble". Vice-Premier of theState Council Wang Qishan also attended the meeting. On international co-operation torevive the world economy Hu said:“We should push forward international cooperation in new industries, particularly inenergy conservation, pollution control, environmental protection and new energy,which may become new growth areas in the world economy... Second, internationalfinancial institutions should give more assistance to developing countries...Improvethe governance structures of the IMF and the World Bank and increase therepresentation and voice of developing countries.”2 April 2009 London - Hu Jintao met Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso. Wang Qishan, LingJihua, Wang Huning, and Dai Bingguo were also present. Hu underlined the importance ofChinese-Japanese relations particularly because of their economic interdependence. Huused the crisis to emphasise the need for China and Japan to work together to mitigate theeffects of the downturn – particularly by promoting East Asian Free Trade Zones:“There is a need to jointly support the relevant countries in this region in dealing withthe international financial crisis, promoting the construction of East Asian free tradezones, expanding regional common markets, and pushing forward regional economicand financial cooperation.”2 April 2009 London - President Hu Jintao met Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. WhileHu recognised the tensions between China and Australia wrought by the economic crisis, hecontinued to support the stalled bilateral free trade agreement:“Under the complex and volatile world situation at present, strengthening Sino-Australian relations not only has practical significance but also has strategicsignificance… The international financial crisis has brought difficulties to the traderelations between the two countries. We are willing to strengthen cooperation withAustralia to overcome the difficulties. We must step up the pace of negotiations onbilateral free trade agreement …”Wang Qishan, Ling Jihua, Wang Huning, and Dai Bingguo were also present.2 April 2009 London - Hu Jintao met Brazilian President Lula. Wang Qishan, Ling Jihua,Wang Huning, and Dai Bingguo were also present. Hu welcomed President Lula’s arrival inChina in the next month, and promoted a ‘joint action programme’:2