On February 4^th, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, accompanying Chinese President Hu Jintao on his state visits to four countries in Europe and Africa, said during an interview before leaving Algiers that the visits met the desired goal of promoting understanding and boosting China's relations and cooperation with these countries, thus making the journey one of friendship and cooperation that carried on the past and opened a way for future.

Li Zhaoxing said that President Hu Jintao started his tour to Western Europe and Africa on the 5^th day of the first month of Chinese lunar calendar, amid the rejoicings and festivities of the Spring Festival. President Hu paid state visits to France, Egypt, Gabon and Algeria at invitation of the four countries from January 26 to February 4. With a full and tight schedule, President Hu attended 60-plus activities and held talks with the four hosts' heads of states, governments and parliaments within only 10 days, during which time he exchanged views in an in-depth manner and discussed ways of enhancing exchanges and cooperation with the hosts. President Hu also fully expounded China's foreign policies and situation of China's opening programs in his speeches and remarks. During the visits, China signed a total of 27 documents with the countries, including joint declarations on strengthening bilateral ties, cooperative accords between government agencies, and contracts and memorandums between businesses. The documents will contribute to the promotion of China's relations with these countries.

He added that France, Egypt, Gabon and Algeria attached great importance to the visit by President Hu. Heads of state of the four countries either greeted him in person at airports or invited him to dinner at their residences. In some countries, tens of thousand people lined the streets and greeted the president with songs and dances. The visits have been filled with friendly feelings borne by the four peoples toward the Chinese people from the beginning to end.

Li Zhaoxing stressed, "the visits by President Hu achieved the desired goal of promoting understanding, deepening friendship and expanding cooperation with the countries, thus making the journey one of friendship and cooperation that carried on the past and opened a way for future".

First, taking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-French diplomatic relations as an opportunity to push it to a new high.

France was the first western power to forge diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level with the New China. Four decades of vicissitudes have witnessed the gradual maturation of the bilateral ties. Cooperation between the two sides has entered a new stage as displayed by the joint declaration signed by Hu Jintao and his French counterpart Jacques Chirac on January 27^th, the commemoration day of the anniversary. The declaration provides guidelines for developing a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and France and defines the fields for intensifying bilateral cooperation.

In Paris, President Hu also expounded China's policy toward the European Union (EU), emphasizing that China supports the integration process of the EU, attaches great importance to the EU's positive role and influence in regional and international affairs and stands ready to develop a Sino-EU comprehensive strategic partnership on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.

Second, promoting all-around development of relations between China and Arab states with the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum as a significant milestone.

Egypt and Algeria are both important countries in the League of Arab States, with their combined population accounting for nearly half of the League's total. China has enjoyed long-standing friendly relations with Arab states, including Egypt and Algeria. China and the Arab states are good partners based on mutual benefit and cooperation on the economic front and are good friends who support each other in international affairs on the political front. To face the opportunities and challenges arising from the changes in the international arena, President Hu Jintao raised a four-point proposal for developing a new-type partnership between China and the Arab countries, which was echoed by members of the League of Arab States. The declaration on the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum was a significant milestone. The forum will serve as a new mechanism for China and Arab states to promote collective dialogue and cooperation, further enrich the China-Arab relationship and raise the level of cooperation between the two sides in an all-around way.

Third, Enhancing the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between China and Gabon comprehensively on the occasion of the 30^th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations.

President Hu Jintao was the first Chinese head of state to visit Gabon since the two countries established diplomatic ties three decades ago, making the visit a great and august occasion in the country. China is the largest developing country, while Africa is a continent housing the largest concentration of developing countries. Over the past five decades, China has conducted 700-odd construction assistance projects or cooperation programs in Africa, sending tens of thousand of professionals there, including 15, 000 medical workers, who can be found at each and every corner of the African Continent. The African people have also offered their support precious to the Chinese people in many respects. President Hu Jintao put forward the initiative of adhering to traditional friendly relations and mutual assistance beneficial to both and bringing closer cooperation, an initiative that shows the strong wish and confidence of the Chinese government to develop closer and comprehensive cooperation with African nations.

Fourthly, gaining wide understanding and support on the Taiwan issue.

Against the backdrop of intensified attempts to split China by the Taiwan Authorities, President Hu Jintao fully expounded the principled stance of the Chinese government, stressing that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. China adheres to the basic policies of "one country, two systems" and will make utmost efforts to realize its peaceful reunification. China resolutely opposes "Taiwan independence", and will never allow anyone to split Taiwan away from China by any means. French leaders reiterated that France adheres to the "one-China" policy and is opposed to any unilateral move, including the so-called referendum, which will escalate tensions across the Taiwan Straits. The leaders of Egypt, Gabon and Algeria also reaffirmed their consistent support for China's reunification.

Fifthly, the visits to the four countries have made it possible to have close contact with personages and ordinary people there, thus deepening mutual understanding and friendship of the peoples.