Extracts.
Chinese Foreign Minister in S. Africa for Talks on African Issues: Official.
Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan has arrived in South Africa for talks with the
country's officials focusing on the New Partnership for Africa's Development
(NEPAD), Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said on Sunday.
Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan has arrived in South Africa for talks
with the country's officials focusing on the New Partnership for Africa's
Development (NEPAD), Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said on Sunday.
Tang arrived in South Africa on Saturday for a four-day visit during which
he would have meetings with his South African counterpart Nkosazana
Dlamini-Zuma and President Thabo Mbeki, according to Pahad.
Pahad said in Pretoria that South Africa wanted to see how the China-Africa
cooperation program could become part of the NEPAD. "We hope to see how we
can synchronize them," he said.
"We don' t believe too many initiatives are good." Pahad said another issue
for discussion was regional representation on the United Nations' Security
Council, on which China has a seat. Africa has asked for two seats. "We have
not made much progress. We want to discuss it with them to see if we can
break the impasse."
The World Summit on Sustainable Development, which is to start in
Johannesburg in August, would also be on the agenda, according to Pahad. It
was important to coordinate with China and the G77, so a united vision could
be found to serve the interests of the developing countries, he said. During
Mbeki's visit to China last year, South Africa was designated as a preferred
country for tourists from there.
"Now we will discuss how to operationalize that," Pahad said. The
possibility of a free trade agreement with China was also on the table, he
said. Other issues expected to be broached include the India-Pakistan
situation, the Middle East, the fight against terrorism following the
September 11 attacks, and the situations in the Great Lakes region, Angola
and Zimbabwe.
"We will discuss how we can cooperate better throughout the world," Pahad
said.
****
China Attaches Great Importance to Mubarak's Coming Visit: Ambassador.
China attaches great importance to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's
upcoming visit and has done a good deal to ensure its success, Chinese
Ambassador to Egypt Liu Xiaoming said Sunday in Cairo.
His coming visit would be of great significance to consolidate friendships
between China and Egypt, promote bilateral relations, maintain regional and
global peace and stability and push forward common prosperity of developing
countries.
Good Momentum of Sino-Egyptian Relation
Political Contacts and Consultations
Right now, the momentum of developing Sino-Egyptian relations is good and
the two countries have made continued progress in carrying out cooperation
in all various fields," said Liu at a news conference held here.
"The Sino-Egyptian Strategic and Cooperative Relations, which the presidents
of the two countries decided to forge in 1999, have been deepened
increasingly. In politics, China and Egypt have maintained contacts and
consultations at various levels and through various channels," Liu said.
Identical Views and Stances
Both sides have identical views and stances in many significant issues
regarding bilateral relations, regional and global situations and have
carried out fruitful cooperation, Liu said, adding that such coordination
and cooperation have been enhanced especially after the September 11 terror
attacks on the United States.
Mubarak Meets Tang Jiaxuan in 2001
He cited phone talks between Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Egyptian
President Mubarak to discuss anti-terrorist issues and reach wide consensus,
as well as Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan's visit to Egypt at the end
of last year to promote bilateral relations.
Bilateral Trade Grows
Trade between China and Egypt have been kept a growth momentum as the total
volume of bilateral trade reached 800 million U.S. dollars in the first 10
months of 2001, up by 4 percent compared to the same period of 2000, Liu
said.
He said that both sides are actively exploring new ways of expanding trade
and economic cooperation, adding that the two countries are also increasing
contacts and cooperation in the fields of military, science, culture and
education.
Mubarak's Visit of Great Significance
President Mubarak's scheduled visit comes within the context of flourishing
developments of Sino-Egyptian relations, Liu said, stressing that regular
meetings between the two leaders would be of great significance to
consolidate friendships between China and Egypt, promote bilateral
relations, maintain regional and global peace and stability and push forward
common prosperity of developing countries.
Mubarak will head to Beijing on January 23 on his eighth official visit to
China.
****
Shootout at Indian Market in Kills 16, Injures 10.
Armed militants surrounded a busy market in India's mountainous northeast
and fired into the crowd Sunday, killing 16 people and wounding 10 others in
the biggest attack in the region in months.
Armed militants surrounded a busy market in India's mountainous northeast
and fired into the crowd Sunday, killing 16 people and wounding 10 others in
the biggest attack in the region in months.
The attack in the Singicherra area of remote Tripura state was carried out
by two groups of militants from the outlawed National Liberation Front of
Tripura, authorities said.
Twelve people were killed at the market, and four died later of their
wounds. Ten others were being treated at two hospitals in Agartala, the
state capital.
Most of the victims were ethnic Bengalis. The thousands of Bengali
immigrants who have settled in the area are frequently targeted by tribal
guerrillas, who claim that they have become the minority in their own land.
The militants escaped, and hundreds of police were dispatched on Sunday to
search for them.
The rebels are fighting to create a separate homeland for tribes in the
region. Their insurgency is unrelated to separatist rebels in Kashmir and a
Dec. 13 terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament ¡ª disputes between India
and Pakistan that have recently led to a military buildup.
The guerrillas operate out of Bangladesh, India's neighbor, and carry out
hit-and-run strikes in Tripura.
Tripura shares a 540-mile border with Bangladesh, a frontier that is guarded
by India's Border Security Force.
****
Zambian President Pledges to Work for Peace in Congo.
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa declared Sunday in Lusaka that he will
continue with the peace initiatives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
which his predecessor Frederick Chiluba started.
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa declared Sunday in Lusaka that he will
continue with the peace initiatives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
which his predecessor Frederick Chiluba started.
Mwanawasa made the statement at the airport before leaving for Malawi to
attend an extraordinary summit of the Southern Africa Development Community
(SADC). "Zambia will continue to play a big role in efforts to find a
solution to the war in DRC," said Mwanawasa who was sworn in 10 days ago.
He said that his new administration is committed to ensuring that there is
peace in the region and all efforts towards this need to be sustained. He
revealed that Zambia has so far contributed 50,000 U.S. dollars towards the
inter-Congolese Dialogue.
Mwanawasa said that he will however consult his cabinet especially the
Ministry of Finance and National Planning on whether Zambia is to offer
more financial help to the dialogue. On the issue of the tense situation in
neighboring Zimbabwe, Mwanawasa said that he is still studying the matter
and it would be too early to comment.
President Mwanawasa will later Sunday join a high powered Zambian delegation
in Malawi headed by foreign minister Katele Kalumba and information minister
Vernon Mwaanga.
****
Kim Dae-jung Extremely Satisfied with S.Korean-Chinese Ties.
South Korean President Kim Dae-jung Monday said he is extremely satisfied
with the progress of South Korean-Chinese relationship since it was
established 10 years ago.
South Korean President Kim Dae-jung Monday said he is extremely satisfied
with the progress of South Korean-Chinese relationship since it was
established 10 years ago.
At his new year press conference here, President Kim said China is a very
important country and market for South Korea.
In terms of geography, China is specially important for South Korea in
security and economics respects. So, South Korea has attached great
importance to developing peaceful and economic cooperative relationship with
China, said Kim at his first news conference this year.
With China's entry into the World Trade Organization, he predicted that both
sides will see increased bilateral trade and investment, saying that his
country will strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in all fields.
****
Seoul Seeking Better Inter-Korean, US-DPRK Ties.
South Korean President Kim Dae-jung Monday said his government will try its
utmost this year to implement the agreements signed by Seoul and Pyongyang
to develop inter-Korean ties.
South Korean President Kim Dae-jung Monday said his government will try its
utmost this year to implement the agreements signed by Seoul and Pyongyang
to develop inter-Korean ties.
The inter-Korean agreements involved the connection of the inter-Korean
railway line, the construction of an industrial complex in Kaesong of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea, opening land route tour to Mount
Kumgang, separated family reunions,and the easing of military tension, Kim
said at a new year press conference.
The inter-Korean railway project will provide significant momentum for
national development as it will enable direct access to the vast Chinese
market and connect the Eurasian continent with the Pacific Ocean, he said.
When asked about the possibility of DPRK leader Kim Jong Il's return visit
to Seoul, Kim said "although the document (South and North Korea's June 2000
Joint Declaration ) said he would visit Seoul at a proper time, I cannot
predict it clearly. Let's wait and see."
On Washington-Pyongyang relations, the South Korean president said the
development of U.S.-DPRK relations is closely correlated with that of
inter-Korean relations.
Kim said the Bush administration has expressed its desire to resume talks
with the DPRK at any time and in any place the DPRK and Pyongyang also
voiced its willingness to restore U.S.-DPRK talks.
However, he pointed out that the two sides have yet to find an opportunity
for dialogue due to a lack of mutual trust.
"It is desirable for the United States to seek dialogue, allowing the
North to save face. I will convey such thoughts during a meeting with
President Bush next month," said the South Korea President.
Since last March, the DPRK-U.S. ties have worsened due to tough words made
by President Bush against DPRK leader Kim Jong Il.
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