Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao said Tuesday that Chinese President Hu Jintao's tour to Poland, Hungary, Romania and Uzbekistan, that started on Tuesday, is "an important visit".

Liu said in response to a reporter's question at a regular press conference that this is Hu's first state visit to these countries since he became the Chinese president.

The spokesman said the four countries are all friendly partners of China, and have conducted sound cooperation with China in economic cooperation and international affairs.

The visit will help increase bilateral understanding, deepen the friendship, expand cooperation, and further promote the friendly cooperative ties between China and these countries, said Liu.

During his visit, the president will also attend the Tashkent summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), said Liu.

He said the Tashkent summit meeting will be the SCO's first meeting since the organization entered a new stage of development, which will be of great importance for SCO to fix its direction of future development, specify its work in all areas, and further play its role in regional and international affairs.

Liu said the purpose of the Tashkent summit meeting is to deepen the cooperation among SCO members in the security, trade and economic areas. During the meeting, heads of state of the SCO members will make important decisions on SCO cooperation in various fields like diplomacy, security, economy and transport, and also will sign a series of agreements and documents.

Liu said that, during the meeting, the Chinese side will take a positive and constructive attitude and hold close consultations with other countries on strengthening relevant cooperation.

Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence still have practical significance

Liu said that the five principles, as important rules for international relations in the past 50 years, play an important role in regulating relations and resolving issues between different countries.

China and India will jointly celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the five principles this year, Liu said, adding that China will hold a seminar in Beijing to mark the anniversary, so as to strive for further implementation of the five principles during the process of establishing a new international political and economic system.

The five principles are mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. They were initiated and proposed by China, India and Myanmar in 1954.

China welcomes Sudanese government's efforts to solve humanitarian crisis

China welcomes the positive efforts made by the Sudanese government to solve the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, western Sudan, said the spokesman.

He said China welcomes the positive efforts made by the Sudanese government on this issue. China hopes relevant parties continue to make joint efforts to settle the crisis through negotiation, so as to realize peace, stability and development in this region.

Since the conflict in Darfur began in February 2003, about 130,000 people have fled to neighboring Chad, while an estimated 900,000 are displaced within Sudan.

China hopes G-8 summit give more support to developing countries

China hopes the G-8 summit will give more support to developing countries to promote their common prosperity.

Liu said that the Group of Eight plays an important role in solving international issues, and they should fully consider the concerns and interests of all countries at the summit, and take steps to help developing countries solve difficulties and promote the common prosperity of all countries.

"We hopes this year's G-8 summit will further make progress in this aspect," said the spokesman.

Liu said the Chinese side attaches great importance to the cooperation with the Group of Eight, and will further play a constructive role in keeping the peace of the world and realizing the common prosperity of all countries.

The three-day G-8 summit began Tuesday in the United States. Leaders of the seven industrialized countries, namely the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Japan, Italy, Canada, and the president of Russia are attending the summit.