On August 8, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao met at the Great Hall of the People with some of the foreign leaders respectively, who are here to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games.

President Hu extended a warm welcome to all the leaders to the opening ceremony, and thanked the foreign governments and people for their support to China's preparations for the Games. Hu also wished foreign athletes good performance at the games.

The foreign leaders attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games spoke highly of China's effective efforts in hosting the Olympic Games and wished and believed that the games will be a great success.

Hu exchanged views with relevant leaders on a wide range of topics including bilateral ties and major international and regional issues of common concern.

"China and Afghanistan enjoy a traditional friendship and sound relations," Hu said during a meeting with President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai. He said the Chinese side is willing to work together with Afghanistan to actively implement the Good-neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation and push forward the partnership of all-round cooperation. The Chinese side respects the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, respects its own choice of development path and supports Afghanistan's efforts to safeguard national security and stability, Hu said. China attaches great importance to, and takes an active part, in Afghanistan's reconstruction, he said. "We're willing to support within our capability," said Hu. The Chinese government will continue to encourage competent businesses to participate in Afghanistan's resources exploration and infrastructure construction to promote economic and social development of the country.

Karzai expressed thanks for China's assistance to Afghanistan's reconstruction and looked forward to more Chinese companies to invest in his country. He expressed belief that Afghanistan would enjoy a better future thanks to the support from the international society, including China. Karzai emphasized that Afghanistan condemns the terrorist acts in China and firmly supports China's efforts to fight against terrorism, pledging to conduct all-round cooperation with China on counter-terrorism.

When meeting with President of Israel Shimon Peres, Hu said the two peoples enjoy a profound traditional friendship and the two countries have shown respect and support for each other, achieved remarkable results in cooperation in various fields, and kept close contact and coordination in international and regional affairs. China and Israel should continue their sound exchanges at all levels, build up mutual trust, bring into full play their complementary advantages, expand mutually-beneficial cooperation and improve cultural, educational and tourism exchanges, Hu added. China is ready to learn from Israel's advanced experiences and technologies in agriculture, medicine, science and technology, water resources and new energy, promote humanities exchanges and promote friendship between the two peoples.

Peres said the holding of the Olympics in China, which enjoys a history of 5000 years, shows the country's enormous development achievements and rapid improvement of people's livelihood. He firmly believed that a better China will bring about a better world, and will benefit mankind as a whole. He expressed the hope that the two countries can strengthen high-level exchanges and expand cooperation in such fields as culture and agriculture.

During a meeting with Romanian President Traian Basescu, Hu said the two peoples share a profound friendship. The leaders of the two countries agreed to lift bilateral ties to a cooperative partnership of all-round friendship in 2004, which marked a new stage for the development of bilateral ties. Both sides have become good friends and partners with political equality and mutual trust, economic cooperation of mutual benefit and close coordination in international affairs. China attaches great importance to ties with Romania, considers Romania a sincere friend and an important partner in Europe, and values Romania's role and influence in the European Union, said Hu. He spoke highly of Romania's positive role in developing China-EU relations. "Next year we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Romanian diplomatic ties. It will be an important milestone in the development of bilateral relations," Hu said. The Chinese president called on both sides to take the opportunity to raise their partnership of comprehensive and friendly cooperation to a new stage.

Basescu hailed long-term friendship between Romania and China and the smooth development of bilateral ties. He appreciated China's positive efforts in balancing trade between the two countries, pointing to fruitful economic and trade cooperation. The Romanian president also vowed to work closely with the Chinese side to celebrate the 60th anniversary well next year, so as to deepen the friendship between the two peoples and consolidate bilateral friendship.

During his meeting with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, Hu said the two countries established a comprehensive cooperative partnership in 2005. The past three years have witnessed frequent high-level visits, deepening political trust, new progress of exchanges and cooperation in all areas and sound coordination and cooperation in international affairs. China deems Croatia a trustworthy friend and partner of China in southeast Europe. "We're willing to work together with Croatia to enhance dialogue and communication, expand concrete cooperation and promote the long-term, stable and sound development of the partnership of all-round cooperation based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit," Hu said. Hu said China consistently respects Croatia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and respects the path of development chosen by the Croatians in line with their domestic situation, as well as the country's efforts to merge in the European integration process.

Mesic said Croatia's independence won support from China, for which the Croatian side is deeply grateful. Croatia and China have carried out sound cooperation in bilateral and multilateral areas, and uphold the UN's role in peacefully resolving international and regional issues. His country values the relations with China and is willing to enhance exchanges and cooperation with China on investment, tourism and localities to achieve mutual benefits.

During the meeting, Hu, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, expressed sincere gratitude for the precious support and assistance offered by the foreign governments and people following the devastating earthquake that hit China's Sichuan province in May.

The foreign leaders said they firmly supported China's principled positions on issues concerning Taiwan and Tibet and supported China's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, for which Hu expressed thanks.

Ling Jihua, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee (CPCCC) and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, Wang Huning, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee (CPCCC) and Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, and State Councilor Dai Bingguo attended the above meetings.