President Hu Jintao will attend the G20 summit on the global financial crisis slated for next Saturday in Washington DC, the Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday.

"At the invitation of US President George W. Bush, President Hu Jintao will attend the G20 summit on financial markets and the world economy on November 15," spokesman Qin Gang said.

The summit, called by Bush in mid-October, has been compared to Bretton Woods, the international meeting at a New Hampshire mountain resort in 1944 that led to the creation of the International Monetary Fund.

China has repeatedly called for close global coordination to address the crisis, while making efforts to maintain relatively fast and stable economic growth at home.

"In the face of this global challenge, the international community should enhance policy coordination, strengthen cooperation and come up with a common response," Hu said when addressing the opening ceremony of the Seventh Asia-Europe Meeting which opened in Beijing on October 24.

He also said China's sound economic growth was in itself a major contribution to global financial stability and economic growth.

Following the G20 meeting, Hu will pay state visits to Costa Rica and Cuba; and attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting on November 22-23 in Peru, Qin said.

China will also - for the first time - release a policy paper on its relations with Latin American and Caribbean countries today.

Relations between China and Latin America have improved dramatically in recent years. The trade volume between the two sides surpassed $100 billion last year.

Hu will also pay a state visit to Greece from November 24 to 25, Qin added.

(China Daily November 5, 2008)