President Hu Jintao will pay state visits to Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia and attend the leaders' informal dialogue meeting between the North and the South in Evian,France from May 26 to June 5, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue announced in Beijing Tuesday.

During his tour, President Hu will also attend the third Summit Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member nations to be held in Moscow, and the celebrations of the tri-centennial anniversary of the establishment of the city of St. Petersburg, Zhang said at a regular press conference.

During the multilateral events, President Hu will also meet with leaders from some other countries.

This is the first overseas trip by the Chinese president since the country's new central leadership took office.

During his visits, President Hu will have extensive contacts with foreign leaders and noted figures from all circles, exchange views with them in a deep-going way on bilateral relations and major international issues of common concern, and sign a series of important documents of cooperation.

Hu's visit will further enhance the friendly and cooperative relationship between China and the relevant countries and will promote regional and international cooperation, said the spokeswoman.

President Hu has been invited by Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, French President Jaques Chirac, Kazakhstan President Nursultan A. Nazarbayev and Mongolian President Nachagyn Bagabandy.

(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2003)