Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the G20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia, and pay state visits to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. The two-day Summit starts Saturday, and the week of state visits are from Sunday. Assistant Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang has briefed the media on the details.
Zheng said Xi will meet with leaders from the Pacific island countries that have diplomatic relations with China. Xi was invited by Australian Governor-General Peter Cosgrove and Prime Minister Tony Abbott, New Zealand’s Governor-General Jerry Mateparae and Prime Minister John Key, and Fiji’s President Epeli Nailatikau and Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. Zheng said this trip would be significant in promoting global economic growth, employment opportunities, the environment, health challenges.
"This is the first time for President Xi Jinping to have state visits to countries in the Oceania region. It is the first time in seven years for a Chinese President to visit Australia. And the first time in eleven years for a Chinese President to visit New Zealand. This trip is significant to help China develop friendly cooperation and partnership with Australia and New Zealand as well as some other Pacific island countries. A series of activities and round table meetings will be held during the G20 Summit which we believe will contribute to the world economy and regional development," Zheng said.