Hu will also attend the third summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states to be held in Moscow and the celebrations of the 300th anniversary of the establishment of the Russian city of St. Petersburg, Zhang told a regular press conference.

The Chinese president will also meet leaders from other countries, and a meeting with United States President George W. Bush is possible.

"China and the United States have preliminarily agreed to hold talks,'' Zhang said.

The president's visit will further enhance the friendly and cooperative relationship between China and the other countries involved and will promote regional and international cooperation, said the spokeswoman.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK quoted a Japanese foreign ministry official as saying that Hu and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi are likely to meet in St. Petersburg at the end of this month.

Zhang declined to confirm that a meeting would take place but said: "We hope Sino-Japanese relations can be pushed forward steadily through direct contact between the leaders (of the two countries).''

China Values North-South Leaders' Informal Dialogue Meeting

China attaches great importance to the leaders' informal dialogue meeting between the North and the South initiated by French President Jacques Chirac, Zhang said at the press conference.

According to the spokeswoman, Chinese President Hu Jintao would attend the Group of Eight meeting, to include some developing countries, which China regarded as a very good opportunity for exchanges between the developed and developing countries on current economic and development issues.

The meeting would focus on the present international economic situation, including issues of world economic growth and globalization, which are all matters of urgency faced by all countries, she said.

China hoped that the leaders would have candid dialogues on major development issues on the basis of openness, pragmatism and equality, so as to contribute to the integrated recovery and sound growth of the world economy through enhanced international cooperation.

China, ASEAN to Hold Customs Quarantine Management Meeting in Beijing

China and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) will hold a meeting on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) quarantine management at customs checkpoints on June 1-2 in Beijing, the spokeswoman said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao suggested at a special meeting of China and ASEAN leaders that China and ASEAN hold a meeting on SARS quarantine management at customs checkpoints.

After negotiations among all sides, it was decided that the meeting would be held in Beijing on June 1-2.

Senior representatives responsible for quarantine matters from 10 ASEAN countries, and officials and experts of the World Health Organization (WHO) would be invited to the meeting, Zhang said.

China attaches much importance to the meeting and Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi would attend the meeting.

Representatives from Hong Kong and Macao would attend the meeting as members of the Chinese delegation.

Delegates from each country would exchange experiences in preventing SARS and ensuring the safe flow of personnel, and push forward tourism and trade developments in the region.

SARS Not to Prevent Athletes from Joining Int?l Events

Chinese athletes will participate in all formal international events as scheduled despite the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic, Zhang said.

Chinese athletes would not be prevented from attending international sports events, including the on-going 47th world table tennis championships held in Paris, except those postponed or canceled by their organizers.

Some countries had required the quarantine of athletes to prevent the spread of SARS, which was understandable, she acknowledged.

However, to protect the health of the athletes and contain the spread of SARS, China would temporarily suspend the participation of its athletes in some informal training matches, said the spokeswoman.

Afghan Vice-President to Visit China

Afghan Vice-President Nimartullah Shaharani will pay a visit to China from May 26 to 30 at the invitation of Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qihong, the spokeswoman announced at the press conference.

(Sources from China Daily and Xinhua News Agency, May 21, 2003)