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Hu in Yekaterinburg for SCO, BRIC summits

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-14 22:13

YEKATERINBURG, Russia -- Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Sunday, for a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and a meeting of BRIC countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India and China.

At the annual SCO summit, top leaders of the organization's six members will exchange views on how to tackle the current international financial crisis and how to expand cooperation in political, economic, security and other fields.

Founded in 2001, the SCO consists of Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Mongolia, India, Pakistan and Iran are observers of the organization.

Special coverage:  SCO & BRIC Summits Related readings:  President leaves for SCO, BRIC meetings  BRIC gets increasing recognition: Researcher  Global crisis to boost SCO's economic activities: expert  SCO holds first-ever joint disaster relief drill  State Councilor attends SCO meetings in Moscow

In Yekaterinburg, President Hu will also attend the first formal meeting of BRIC countries, an acronym for the four fast growing developing economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China.

At the BRIC meeting on Tuesday, the leaders of the four countries will discuss major issues such as the international financial crisis, reform of the financial institutions, food and energy security, climate change, trade, and the future of BRIC dialogue.

From Yekaterinburg, President Hu will travel to Moscow for a state visit, his first to Russia since President Dmitry Medvedev took office in May of 2008.

Chinese foreign ministry officials said that during the visit, Hu will meet Medvedev and other Russian leaders to exchange views on how to further develop the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation.

In Moscow, President Hu is also expected to attend the activities marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia.

The Chinese president is on a three-nation trip, which will also take him to Slovakia and Croatia.