国内英语新闻:Chinese President's Malaysia, Singapore visits to further ties,FM official

BEIJING, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao's upcoming state visits to Malaysia and Singapore would comprehensively push forward China's ties with the two nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said an official with the Foreign Ministry here Friday.

    Hu will pay state visits to Malaysia and Singapore from Nov. 10to 13, at the invitations of Malaysian Supreme Head of State Mizan Zainal Abidin and Singaporean President S. R. Nathan.

    It is the first time for President Hu Jintao to pay state visits to Malaysia and Singapore as president of China, and it is also the first time in 15 years for a Chinese President to visit the two countries, said Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue at a news briefing.

    During his stay in Malaysia, Hu will hold talks with Supreme Head of State Mizan and meet with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

    "President Hu's visit to Malaysia will surely further deepen strategic cooperation between the two nations and advance bilateral ties," said the assistant foreign minister.

    While in Singapore, he will hold talks with President Nathan and meet with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

    President Hu will exchange views with Singaporean leaders on deepening mutually beneficial and cooperative ties, and discuss international and regional issues of common concern," said the assistant foreign minister.

    Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce Yi Xiaozhun said China and the two countries had good economic and trade relations and were each other's important trade partners.

    In Malaysia, the two sides will sign economic and trade cooperative documents to push forward joint projects in the infrastructure area.

    While in Singapore, leaders of both nations will discuss on how to promote bilateral trade and investment, advance major cooperative projects and enhance cooperation within the framework of regional and international trade.

    "We believe that President Hu's visit will surely expand the scale of economic and trade cooperation between China and the two countries, and promote the sustained and stable development of bilateral relations, " Yi said.