Hu Jintao, “It is a Small World “

The president of China, Hu Jintao, is increasing the globalization efforts of China.

President Hu Jintao visited three countries in Eastern Europe, starting from Poland on June 8 and also including Hungary and Romania. He is also scheduled to attend the Shanghai Cooperative Organization (SCO) summit talk held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on June 17 and 18. It will be an 11-day trip.

This is the third overseas trip for him since the beginning of his presidency, followed by the visit to France, Egypt and Gabon this January and to Russia at the end of the May. While his trip to Egypt and Gabon was intended to obtain energy resources, and the visit to France and Russia was to establish multipolarization of world politics against the United States, this time he attempts to approach the E.U. by strengthening the bond between China and the new member countries.

Three Countries in Eastern Europe—

It was only a month ago when Prime Minister Wen Jiabao visited five countries in Europe, including Germany, from May 2, right after the inclusion of new members to the E.U.

The E.U. was the third biggest trading partner with China last year. The E.U. will possibly become the biggest partner, surpassing Japan and the United States, because 10 countries in Eastern Europe just joined as new members.

China and the E.U. have many common issues, not only economic cooperation but also the Galileo satellite project and the utilization of nuclear energy.

Also Interested in the Old Soviet Union—

President Hu Jintao will also attend the SCO summit talk with the six members of the former Soviet Union, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan during this trip.

SCO started its mission in 2001 in Shanghai, China with the goal of intensifying regional security by mutual cooperation and elimination of terrorism, religious extremism, and separatism. It strongly represents commitment of China and Russia, which does not want to lose hegemony in middle Asia, for security alliance, as well as economic cooperation among countries in the region.

Dong-Won Kim daviskim@donga.com