Friday marked the first day of President Xi Jinping's packed schedule of meetings with key figures arriving for the G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

Xi welcomed leaders from Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Senegal, Laos, Brazil and Singapore on Friday, as the leaders expressed their countries' desires for a successful summit in China.

Many of the countries said they appreciated China's contribution to boosting development and solidarity in regions such as Africa. Among the six countries, Kazakhstan, Senegal, Laos and Singapore are guest countries invited by Beijing this year.

Laos chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year, while Senegal is chair of the New Partnership for Africa's Development.

Catchphrases during the meetings included "dovetailing national-level development strategies," "promoting key infrastructure projects" and "addressing the sluggish global economy."

To highlight greater benefits from cooperation, Xi specified goals such as helping to accelerate industrialization in Senegal and promoting the industrialization of agriculture there.

Wang Yusheng, a veteran Chinese diplomat and a former Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation official, noted that hosting the G20 Summit is an important opportunity for China to play its role as a major country with a great sense of responsibility.

"As China promotes equality and mutual benefit, and a correct outlook upon interests ... I believe these concepts will be further realized and all the countries will work together to weather the storm," Wang said.

Su Ge, president of the China Institute of International Studies, noted that the meetings were held as growth is slowing in emerging economies and the security situation in many regions is deteriorating.

"The world has benefited China's development, and the Chinese economy will make its own contribution to the world," Su said.

Kazakhstan

President Nursultan Nazarbayev thanked China for its invitation to attend the G20 summit as a guest country. He said that the two countries have traditional friendship and high political mutual trust.

Kazakhstan would like to enhance cooperation with China in areas including trade, agriculture, energy, petroleum processing, environmental protection and security, Nazarbayev said.

He added that Kazakhstan is willing to connect the country's "Bright Road" new economic policies with China's Belt and Road Initiative.

President Xi Jinping said that China and Kazakhstan should make joint efforts for more competitive projects with high added value, deepen energy and resource cooperation, broaden people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen cooperation in the security area.

Indonesia

President Joko Widodo said he supports exploring ways to connect China's 21st century maritime Silk Road with Indonesia's 'global maritime nexus', and deepening cooperation with China in areas such as trade, investment, finance and infrastructure. The Indonesia-China comprehensive strategic partnership could contribute to world peace and security, he said. President Xi Jinping urged the smooth construction and operation of a high-speed railway linking the Indonesian capital Jakarta and nearby Bandung. Xi said that the two countries should cooperate on more leading projects and enhance cooperation in areas including infrastructure, production capacity, trade, investment, finance and e-commerce. China and Indonesia should be good neighbors, good partners and good friends, Xi said.

Senegal

President Macky Sall said Senegal appreciates China's long-term support to Senegal and Africa at large.

Senegal highly values China's cooperation plan with Africa that President Xi Jinping announced during the China-Africa Cooperation Forum Johannesburg Summit last year, he said, as well as close cooperation with China to achieve Africa's independent development.

China and Senegal agreed in the meeting to raise the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation. Xi said China is willing to help Senegal speed up industrialization and independent development, modernize agriculture, strengthen security cooperation and push forward the international political and economic order to be more fair and reasonable.

Laos

President Bounnhang Vorachith said he appreciates China's invitation to Laos to attend the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, and he speaks highly of China's making development an important topic on the summit agenda.

The Laos-China comprehensive strategic partnership is developing rapidly, the high-level visits are frequent, and cooperation in various fields is bringing tangible benefits to people of both countries, he said.

President Xi Jinping said Laos' participation in the G20 Summit, with its chairmanship of ASEAN, is of great significance. Both countries should jointly promote the building of the Belt and Road Initiative and strengthen cooperation in fields such as infrastructure, energy development and economic cooperation parks, Xi said.

Brazil

Brazilian President Michel Temer said he is delighted to come to China and attend the G20 Leaders Summit as his first trip abroad after taking office. Brazil wants to deepen its comprehensive strategic partnership with China on stable and long-lasting basis, he said. Brazil would like to increase cooperation in fields such as bilateral trade, energy, aviation, agriculture and husbandry, investment, financing and infrastructure, he added. President Xi Jinping said China has confidence in Brazil's development prospects as well as China-Brazil cooperation. Xi said he hopes the two countries will increase the dovetailing of industries and production capacity cooperation, introduce new dynamism into practical bilateral cooperation by promoting scientific and technological innovation, and expand strategic coordination in international issues such as global governance, sustainable development and climate change.

Singapore

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the strategic interconnection project in Chongqing, a landmark cooperative project between his country and China, has gradually taken shape. Singapore hopes to broaden its cooperation with China under the Belt and Road Initiative, in fields such as aviation and finance. As the coordinating country between China and ASEAN, Singapore is ready to keep pushing forward China-ASEAN cooperation, he said. President Xi Jinping said China and Singapore are "standing at a new historic starting point".The two countries should well plan development of bilateral ties, maintain top-level exchanges, strengthen communication and show understanding and respect on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns.

China Daily

(China Daily 09/03/2016 page4)