On August 10, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao meets with U.S. President George W. Bush at Ziguangge, Zhongnanhai in Beijing

On August 10, 2008, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met at Ziguangge, Zhongnanhai respectively with some of the foreign leaders, who attended the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games and other events.

Premier Wen welcomed these leaders to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games and other relevant activities and thanked the countries' support of the games. Wen said the Beijing Olympic Games belongs to the whole world. "We believe that with the support of the international community, the games will be a success, fully demonstrating the good wish of One World, One Dream," said Wen.

The foreign leaders attending the meetings described the preparations for the Beijing Olympic Games as excellent and the opening ceremony as magnificent and grandiose, saying that it fully reflected the profound culture of China, bright prospect of China's development and the country's commitment to a development path of peace, harmony and cooperation. They wished the games a great success.

When meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush, Wen said maintaining lasting, healthy and stable development of the China-U.S. tie is the common responsibility of both countries and is expected by the international community. Bilateral constructive cooperative relations have achieved great development, he said, expositing hope that the sound momentum will continue. Wen voiced hopes for growth in the U.S. economy and a stable exchange rate for the U.S. dollar. He also suggested making full use of Sino-U.S. strategic dialogue, Sino-U.S. Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade and other mechanisms in the principle of equality, development and mutual benefit to step up consultation between the two countries and properly handle disputes so as to push for greater development of Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations. Wen proposed that both sides fully take each other's concerns into consideration. China will work on balancing its trade position and enhancing the protection of intellectual property rights, and it hoped the United States would ease rules on high-tech exports to China and recognize China's full market economy status, Wen said. The two countries should work together to prevent protectionism, oppose politicizing economic and trade issues and push forward the creation of a just, open, rational and non-prejudicial multi-lateral system of trade. Wen also urged both sides to promote communication about macro-economic policy-making and international trade and jointly cope with turbulence of international financial market, rising global energy and food prices and other challenges.

Hailing the great positive changes taking place in China, Bush said China's development benefits the world. The current U.S.-China relations enjoy a more solid basis and broader common interest and the tie is a win-win relationship instead of a zero-sum game. The United States expected to enhance dialogue and cooperation with China and to carry on the strategic economic dialogue, strengthen energy and environmental cooperation and jointly cope with climate change and other global challenges, he noted. "At present and in the future, I will be continuously devoted to developing a closer and more sincere U.S.-China relationship," said Bush.

When meeting with Prime Minister of the Republic of Guinea Ahmed Tidiane Souaré, Wen said the two countries share traditional friendly relations. China is ready to take the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties next year to carry out exchange activities in various forms and build friendship between the two peoples. Both sides should step up efforts to implement the outcome of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to benefit the people of the Republic of Guinea at an early date. As the two countries have their respective advantages in resources exploitation and infrastructure construction, their businesses can establish long-term stable cooperative relations for mutual benefit.

Souaré thanked China for its long-standing assistance to Guinea's national development. He said the people of Guinea hold fraternal friendly feelings towards Chinese people and sincerely wish China greater progress. Guinea is ready to enhance cooperation with China and welcomes Chinese companies to actively participate in the country's economic construction.

During the meeting with Tongan Prime Minister Feleti Vaka'uta Sevele, Wen said bilateral relations between China and Tonga had developed smoothly since they forged diplomatic ties 10 years ago, with frequent high-level visits, expanding exchanges and cooperation on economy, trade, agriculture, culture, education and public health and sound communication and coordination in international and regional affairs. China cherished its friendship with Tonga, and was ready to explore new cooperation channels and means to further propel the development of bilateral ties, he said.

Sevele thanked China for its support and aid to Tonga in the past years. He said the Tongan royal family, government and people attach great importance to ties with China and his country would continue to stick to the one-China policy, beef up cooperation with China in trade, economy and infrastructure construction and support China in international and regional affairs to further promote the development of relations.

When meeting with Vanuatuan Prime Minister Vanuaroroa HamLini, Wen said recent years had seen frequent contacts between the two countries' leaders and both sides have exchanged views on issues of common concern in a friendly, candid manner, thus ensuring healthy, stable development of bilateral ties. China was willing to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, continue to provide economic and technological aid to Vanuatu with no political strings attached, and encourage Chinese businesses to invest in Vanuatu and conduct cooperation to benefit the two peoples, he said.

Lini said China was an important development partner for Vanuatu, and China's aid had benefited the Vanuatuan people. Vanuatu cherished its friendship with China and was willing to further the two sides' exchanges and cooperation in its economic and social development process, he said.

During the meeting with Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama of Fiji's interim government, Wen said China respected the development road the Fijian people had chosen for themselves, and believed they had the ability and wisdom to well govern and build their own country. China was willing to strengthen reciprocal cooperation with Fiji in various spheres based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits, well implement aid projects and inject new vigor into the development of bilateral relations, he said.

Bainimarama said Fiji would firmly stick to the one-China policy, expressing hope to further enhance the friendly cooperation with China. Fiji is ready to coordinate with China to well implement China-aided cooperation projects in Fiji.

During the meeting with Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, Wen said Finland was China's reliable and good friend and partner in the European Union. The two sides had fruitful cooperation in traditional spheres including forestry, papermaking and communications, and their cooperation in new areas including energy conservation, environmental protection, technological innovation and nanometer technology was also making encouraging progress, he said. The two countries have also conducted colorful cultural exchange activities. "We are ready to work with the Finnish side, on the basis of mutual respect and reciprocity, to propel the bilateral ties to a new high," Wen said.

Vanhanen said bilateral ties were maintaining good development momentum, and Finland had become China's biggest trade partner in northern Europe. Finland hoped to maintain high-level exchanges with China, and further promote their cooperation in technological innovation and other areas, he said. Finland is ready to discuss possibilities of building high-tech and environment-friendly cities with China. Finland is ready to actively support and cooperate with China in preparing the Seventh ASEM Summit to be held in Beijing within the year.

While meeting with Prime Minister of Netherlands Jan Peter Balkenende, Wen hailed the frequent exchanges and deepened mutual trust between China and Netherlands, saying that bilateral cooperation on agriculture, science and technology and water conservancy has brought about substantial benefits for both sides. Netherlands has been the second-largest trade partner of China in the European Union for five consecutive years. "We are ready to make joint efforts with Netherlands to make more achievements in the development of China-Netherlands friendly and cooperative ties," said Wen.

Balkenende said China was an important and reliable partner of cooperation of Netherlands. Netherlands would continue to follow the one-China policy and hoped to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with China to jointly respond to climate change and other global challenges, properly resolve regional hot issues and push forward the Doha round of WTO talks.

When meeting with Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Wen said the Chinese and Albanian people cherish traditional friendship, and recent years had seen increased high-level exchanges and mutual support for each other's great concerns between the two sides. Wen pledged China's willingness to explore with Albania effective ways to expand their trade and investment to further benefit the two peoples.

Berisha said the Albanian government and people cherish the traditional friendship with China. He thanked China for its long-term support and help, saying Albania hopes to develop with China all-round cooperative ties and welcomes Chinese businesses to invest in Albania.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also met with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. On bilateral relations, Wen said the two countries have made remarkable achievements on economic and trade cooperation, technology transfer, law enforcement dialogues and cultural exchanges, which, he said, are attributed to long-standing joint efforts of the two countries' leaders and peoples from all walks of life. "China is ready to work together with Germany, based on the principle of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits, to raise level of bilateral partnership of global responsibility," said Wen. He appreciated Shroeder's important contributions to the development of bilateral ties and hoped that he will continue to commit to the China-Germany friendly cooperation cause.

Shroeder said Germany and China shared extensive common interests with expanding area of cooperation and he was optimistic about the future of Germany-China ties. He added that he would continue to make contribution to the development of Germany-China relations.