In the afternoon of the second day of his official visit to China, Prime Minister Janez Janša separately met the President of the People's Republic of China, Hu Jintao, and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Wu Bangguo. They discussed bilateral political and economic relations, and the Chinese hosts were interested in Slovenia's priorities during the Presidency of the EU.
Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša and President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao (Photo: Tina Kosec/Bobo)
Mr Hu presented his view on China's development and plans for the future. He stressed the understanding and functioning of a harmonious society based on scientific development, and a realistic view on problems China is facing. China has high economic growth, and great social and regional development differences. According to the Chinese President, they will devote much attention to this issue and are therefore open to the experience of other countries.
Both sides exchanged views on the issue of energy supply and resolving the consequences of climate change, particularly in the light of the post-Kyoto process. The hosts expressed interest in the EU's experience in protecting the environment, developing clean energy technology and decreasing the harmful impact of economic development on the environment. PM Janez Janša presented the EU's plans in this area, adding that much is expected of the EU-China Summit at the end of this month, as enhancing partnerships with regard to climate change and energy is also on the agenda. The Chinese hosts informed the Slovenian delegation of the efforts they were putting into decreasing greenhouse and environment pollution, and increasing the share of renewables. In this dialogue, the People's Republic of China is one of the most significant partners of the EU.
PM Janez Janša met the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Wu Bangguo (Photo: Tina Kosec/Bobo)
On this occasion the Slovenian PM expressed satisfaction over the constructive role of China as a permanent member of the UN Security Council in resolving the North-Korean nuclear issues and with other similar significant international issues.
The leaders also discussed economic cooperation between the two countries and expressed interest in achieving more balanced trade. In the light of the latter, the Slovenian PM attended a Sino-Slovenian business conference in the morning and addressed over 200 business representatives from both countries. He then saw a multi-media performance entitled ‘Rainbow’ at Beijing University, dedicated to Avguštin Ferdinand Hallerstein from Mengeš, who in the 18th century worked for 32 years at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and Board of Mathematics in Beijing and gained a great reputation. He even discovered a new comet.
Tomorrow, the PM and the business delegation will travel to Shangai, where PM Janez Jnaša will meet the mayor, take a tour of the Slovenian Iskra Avtoelektrika company and attend the opening of the office of the Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investment.
