Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping's visits to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Yemen will effectively push forward the development of China's ties with these countries, a senior diplomat said Wednesday.

Xi paid official visits to the five nations at the invitation of the countries' leaders on June 17-25.

The five-nation tour, the first visit to foreign countries by Xi after becoming vice president earlier this year, was a tour of "friendship, exchange and cooperation," said Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui, who accompanied Xi during the visits, to reporters.

The visits, featured with a compact agenda, were "pragmatic and highly-effective," and have yielded rich fruits, he added.

The visits have consolidated the traditional friendship between China and the five nations, the official said.

The five countries are all traditionally friendly nations of China and the bilateral ties have developed smoothly since the establishment of the diplomatic relations, Zhang said.

Vice President Xi expressed to the countries' leaders the willingness to enhance friendship and actively push forward exchanges and cooperation between China and the countries in such fields as politics, economy, culture and education, he said.

During the talks and meetings, leaders of the five countries all expressed sympathies again over the devastating earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan province and praised China's disaster relief work, he said.

The leaders also voiced firm support for China's stance on the issues of Taiwan and Tibet and wished the Beijing Olympic Games a success, Zhang said.

"All this fully demonstrates the deep feelings and friendship of the countries' peoples toward China," he maintained.

The visit will promote mutually beneficial cooperation, Zhang said.

Overall, China and the five countries are highly complementary in economy with great potential and broad prospects for further cooperation, he said.

The five countries have a strong desire to enhance cooperation with China, he said.

Xi exchanged in-depth views with leaders from the five countries on strengthening cooperation in various areas and reached many important agreements on this issue.

Quite a few cooperation accords have been signed on such areas as agriculture, trade and economy, energy, resource, infrastructure construction, culture, education and tourism, said Zhang.

Xi also met with the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), reaching agreements with him on boosting cooperation between China, GCC and its member states.

The vice president attended trade and economic seminars in Mongolia, Saudi Arabia and Yemen respectively, Zhang said.

He put forward suggestions on enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation on the occasion, which put great focus on mutual respect, innovation, mutual benefit and common development, the vice minister said.

Xi pointed out that relevant rules and laws as well as cooperative mechanisms need to be completed at the same time.

The visits will enhance communication and mutual trust between China and the five nations, Zhang said.

Xi briefed the leaders from the five nations on China's economic and social development, especially the relief work following the devastating earthquake that hit southwestern China on May 12 and preparations to the Beijing Olympic Games.

He said China will always adhere to the path of peaceful development, good-neighborly relations, a mutually beneficial and win-win opening up strategy.

The leaders said they were pleased to see China's development and achievements, and regarded it as an opportunity.

They are willing to strengthen communication and consultation with China, support each other on major international and regional issues.

Vice President Xi attended the international energy meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on June 22.

During his speech, he stressed that the energy problem is a global issue, the international community should establish and implement a new energy security concept of mutually beneficial cooperation, multi-dimensional development, and cooperation to guarantee the world energy security, Zhang said.

Xi pointed out that China mainly relies on domestic energy production. In recent years, China's energy consumption has increased rapidly, but still below the world's average standards of consumption and imports.

China has been sticking to scientific development and adopting a sustainable energy strategy, the Chinese leader said.

During the energy development process, China will always follow the principles of economizing on energy consumption, multi-dimensional development, basing itself domestically, relying on science and technology, protecting the environment, and mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries, Xi pledged at the meeting.

As a responsible and active participant in global energy cooperation, China has contributed much for world energy security, he said.

The Chinese proposition on solving the global energy problems have received general recognition from the participating countries of the meeting, vice minister Zhang said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 26, 2008)