sipila
Thu, 22 Mar 2001 20:25:10 -0800
Extracts. China Vows to Ease Water Shortages Through Saving Top Chinese lawmaker Li Peng said Thursday China should give top priority to water saving, while increasing the water supply through developing new water resources in a bid to ease water shortages. Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said China will strive to build itself into a water-saving nation, calling for more efforts to protect water resources through an improved legal system. Speaking Thursday at a forum marking the world's Water Day and China's 14th Water Week, Li urged all communities in China to improve their awareness of existing concerns over water. He described water as a lifeline of human existence and economic and social development. Per capita water resources in China total 2,200 cubic meters, about one quarter of the world's average, he said, adding the figure will decrease to 1,760 cubic meters per capita by 2030 when China's population peaks to 1.6 billion. Li said there is a great potential for water saving in China. On China's proposed plans for diverting fresh water from the Yangtze River to northern China through three different routes, he stressed the need for water saving. The total amount of water to be diverted during the first and second stage of the project will be 50 billion cubic meters each year, only about one quarter of the anticipated increased amount of demand, he said. "So at present and in the long run, water saving should be placed on top agenda," said the chairman. China's irrigation efficiency is only at half the level of the world's developed countries, and China's water consumption for 10, 000 yuan worth of industrial products is 91 cubic meters, about five to 10 times more than that of the developed countries, said Li. He called on more efforts to be made to improve water management systems with increases of water prices and levies on water resources accordingly and reasonably. **** No Change in US Policy Toward China: Powell The Bush administration will continue to follow the one-China policy which has been pursued by successive previous administrations and will abide by the three joint communiques between the United States <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/usa.html> and China, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Wednesday in Washington. Powell made the remarks when meeting with visiting Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/leaders/Qianqichen.htm> , Chinese Foreign Ministry <http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/> spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told a press briefing. Powell told Qian that the principles and contents contained in the three joint communiques have shaped US policy toward China and this policy has not changed. During the talks, Qian said Sino-US relations are closely related with the fundamental interests of the two countries and well-being of the two peoples. As permanent members of the UN Security Council, Qian said, both China and the United States shoulder important responsibilities in safeguarding world peace and promoting common prosperity. Thanks to efforts by both sides, the two countries have achieved much progress in various areas and especially in recent years, the two sides have carried out very effective cooperation in overcoming the Asian financial crisis and also in weapons non- proliferation, environmental protection and the fight against drug- trafficking,the Chinese vice premier said. The effective cooperation has not only promoted common interests of the two countries but also helped maintain regional and global peace and stability, he added. On the Taiwan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/taiwan.html> issue, Qian stressed that it is the most important and sensitive core issue in the Sino-US ties and all previous US administrations, both Republican and Democratic, have adhered to the one-China policy and abided by the three joint communiques between the two countries. He also expressed the hope that the US side will continue to stick to the three joint communiques, especially the August 17, 1982, joint communique, and deal with arms sales to Taiwan in a cautious manner so that the issue will not harm the Sino-US relationship. During the talks, the two sides agreed that China's early accession to the World Trade Organization is in the common interests of both countries and they will do their utmost to achieve that goal. The two sides also expressed willingness to continue bilateral and multilateral cooperation on various issues and in various fields, such as environmental protection and fighting against drug- trafficking. As to the National Missile Defense and human rights issues, both sides expressed their respective views during the talks. Besides, Powell accepted with pleasure an invitation by Qian to visit China within this year. **** NPC Delegation to Attend Inter-Parliamentary Session in Cuba A delegation of the National People's Congress (NPC) will attend the 105th session of the Inter- parliamentary Union to be held in Havana, capital of Cuba, from April 1 to 7. The delegation will be led by Jiang Zhenghua, vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee. This was announced here Thursday afternoon at a routine by Chinese Foreign Ministry <http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/> Spokesman Sun Yuxi. **** US Paper Warns Against Arms Sales to Taiwan If the new US administration sells advanced weapons to Taiwan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/taiwan.html> , it could severely hurt US- China relations, The New York Times newspaper warned on Wednesday. In an editorial, it urged the administration of President George W. Bush to stand firm against Republican conservatives in their demand for sales to Taiwan of four Aegis-equipped destroyers. "If he yields to conservative pressure and authorizes the sale of four destroyers equipped with America's most advanced naval radar system to Taiwan, Mr. Bush is likely to condemn his China policy to a sustained period of discord with Beijing <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/beijing.html> ," the paper warned. The editorial came out on the same day when Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/leaders/Qianqichen.htm> arrived in Washington for a three-day visit. "The sale of the Aegis radar system is not justified at this point and would be needlessly provocative," the newspaper stressed. "Selling the Aegis would diminish, not increase security across the Taiwan Straits," it added. The paper described arms sales to Taiwan as "the most volatile issue in America's relationship with China" and "the first subject that Mr. Bush faces." China is vehemently opposed to America's continued arms sales, especially advanced weaponry like the Aegis systems to the island. Under three joint communiques between Washington and Beijing that led to the establishment of diplomatic ties, the United States <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/usa.html> promised to phase out arms sales to Taiwan. The New York Times said Washington must understand that China's determination not to let Taiwan become an independent nation is " deeply rooted." It also lashed out at some conservatives for " overlooking significant changes in Beijing's diplomatic approach to the Taiwan issue." On Monday, President Bush reaffirmed that his administration will continue to adhere to the "one China" policy and set up "constructive and open" ties with China. "The best course for the United States, China (Chinese mainland) and Taiwan is to maintain Taiwan's current status as an autonomous, but not independent, entity until such time as Beijing and Taipei peacefully agree on a mutually acceptable formula for their relations," the paper suggested. A meeting between Qian and Bush at the White House would offer Bush an opportunity to set "a constructive course" with China, said the paper. "Few international relationships are as important, and as complex, as that between the United States and China" which has involved such vital issues as economy, trade, security and human rights, it said. "As the 21st century unfolds, Beijing's advance to the front ranks of global power assures that all of these issues will take on ever greater significance," it said. During his stay here, Qian is expected to meet Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and several Congressmen for talks on a wide range of issues of common concern. **** US Permits Company to Negotiate Commercial Shipping with Cuba The US government has permitted a maritime transportation company to negotiate with a Cuban company for merchandise shipping between the two countries. But no exact date of the first goods transport has been set, said the company, Crowley Liner Services. Company spokesman Mark Miller said it would possibly be within the year. If Crowley arranges the transportation of US goods to Cuba, it will become the first to do so since an embargo imposed upon the island nearly 40 years ago, according to a report from Miami Wednesday. About 60 clients in the United States <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/usa.html> are ready for the authorized sending of cargo with Crowley Liner Services to Cuba, said the leaders of a non-governmental organization, Cuba-United States Trade and Economic Council. If authorized, the sales from the US to Cuba <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/cuba.html> will come to 284 million US dollars every year, the report quoted experts as saying. The US Congress approved in October of the flow of humanitarian aid to Cuba without public or private American financing. **** "Let Your Yes be Yes and No, No": Christian Discloses Falun Gong Cult In the Bible, Jesus Christ tells people "simply let your 'yes' be 'yes' and 'no', 'no'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." "Following his instruction, when we Christians make an argument on the Falun Gong issue, we should first make clear what on earth Falun Gong is and what it is not," said Deng Fucun, vice chairman of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee of the Protestant Churches of China (TSPMCPCC). Deng happened to live in the same hotel in Los Angeles with a group of Falun Gong followers during his religious visit to United States <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/usa.html> in late February this year, which helped him recognize the true nature of Falun Gong cult, Deng said. These Falun Gong activists were all overseas Chinese in Australia <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/australia.html> , New Zealand, Hong Kong <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/hk.html> and Taiwan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/taiwan.html> . At the daily gatherings during the breakfast time, "I always heard the ringleader of the gang instruct his followers to pay close attention to American people," Deng recalled. "If they show any interest in us, you should dress them up quickly with our yellow jackets (printed with Falun Gong logos) and take photos of them. This will definitely satisfy the US media." The ringleader kept reminding his members to "always follow the step of the Falun Gong troop, for it is an excellent opportunity to get the US green card", Deng added. During their three-day trip in Los Angeles, these Falun Gong activists spent most of their time sitting in front of China's consulate general in Los Angeles and being interviewed by US media. They only spared a half-day gathering to exchange experience in practicing the Falun Gong, though Li Hongzhi never appeared, according to Deng. So far, the Falun Gong cult has been completely under the control of overseas political forces to work against China, and to my understanding, Falun Gong is an evil cult with an anti-human, anti-society and anti-science nature, Deng said. The cult instigated its followers to attack everyone that opposes or questions their "belief" and actions. Numerous innocent victims were deceived by the fallacy to commit suicide or even slaughtered their family members. Li Hongzhi, the prime malefactor, oversold his mysterious power by saying that he was able to postpone the earth's explosion by 30 years and escape from the limits of time and space. "I will never forget the tragic suicidal 'event that seven Falun Gong practitioners set themselves on fire at the Tiananmen Square," said Deng in deep sorrow, and" I'm also shocked to hear about the US human rights report smearing China's efforts in eradicating the destructive cult and saving those bewitched Falun Gong followers as 'religious persecution'". "A professional US clergyman, who has bothered to make research on some books published by the Falun Gong cult, confirmed to me that Falun Gong is not a religion, because it does not has a real sutra, though it has managed to plagiarize a lot of religious languages from other religions," Deng said. "The Falun Gong cult is just like a vulture who has decorated itself with colorful feathers. But any dithering will shake off all the feathers, and it is still an ugly bird indeed," the clergyman made a comparison. The Bible says "...to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." Chinese Christians will hold such affection to save those people who have lost in the heresy, eradicate the evil and carry forward the justice, Deng declared. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________