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Mon, 21 Jan 2002 09:06:09 -0800
Extracts. China, Vietnam Cooperate in Drug Prohibition. The Public Security Department of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has reached agreement with the Vietnamese Ministry of Police on drug prohibition. The Public Security Department of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has reached agreement with the Vietnamese Ministry of Police on drug prohibition. Lu Bing, deputy secretary of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, met with a delegation from the Vietnamese ministry in Nanning Saturday afternoon. He said that the governments and peoples of China and Vietnam want to prohibit the trade in and the use of drugs. Although Guangxi has made progress in recent years by establishing 20 "drug- free" cities and counties, a quarter of the total territory, drugs still create problems. Efforts should be made to stop illegal trade from neighboring countries, since all drugs are from outside China, Lu noted. Therefore, it is of importance to work with its neighbors. **** 'Johannesburg Declaration' Calls on Overseas Chinese Worldwide to Promote Peaceful Reunification. According to the news from Johannesburg the All Africa Association for Peaceful Reunification of China was inaugurated on January 19 and at the same time we saw the conference on the Peaceful Reunification of China being held here. The conference was wound up with a "Johannesburg Declaration", calling on the Chinese expatriates and overseas Chinese all over the world to oppose "Taiwan Independence" for promoting the peaceful reunification of China. According to the news from Johannesburg the All Africa Association for Peaceful Reunification of China was inaugurated on January 19 and at the same time we saw the conference on the Peaceful Reunification of China being held here. The conference was wound up with a "Johannesburg Declaration", calling on the Chinese expatriates and overseas Chinese all over the world to oppose "Taiwan Independence" for promoting the peaceful reunification of China. The delegations on both sides of the strait headed respectively by Li Zupei, vice-president of All China Overseas Chinese Federation and Mr. Liang Su-yung, Head of Taiwan Straits Peaceful Reunification Association attended the conference. Present at the conference were also some 500 sons and daughters of the Chinese nation, representatives of the Chinese expatriates and overseas Chinese from other provinces of the South Africa <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/southAfrica.html> and from other continents and regions worldwide. Mr. Donald Wong, Chairman of Transvaul Chinese Association of South Africa was elected president of All Africa Association for Peaceful Reunification of China at the conference. At the opening ceremony of the conference Mr. Wong was the first to address that the overseas Chinese and Chinese expatriates all over the world have formed their own communities. Though many of them were born in where they are now and cannot speak Chinese they all find their roots in China, recognizing they are the Chinese and they are very much concerned about the compatriots in Taiwan, holding that Taiwan is part of the Chinese territory. "We often say we are Taiwanese, or Shanghainese or Cantonese but we are all Chinese. Let's take to heart Dr. Sun Yat-sen's testament and unite closely together." Mr. Li Zupei first expressed his congratulations on the establishment of All Africa Association for Peaceful Reunification of China, holding that its setting-up has a profound significance. "It indicates that the overseas Chinese in Africa like all other Chinese living overseas are very much concerned about the peaceful reunification of the motherland and they unite together to promote actively the cause of peaceful reunification of China. This has once again expressed in a forcible way that the peaceful reunification of China is favored by both the Chinese people and by all other Chinese living abroad. The conference is the seventh one convened by the Chinese on this globe. It is preceded by the convocation of the six such meetings held in China's Hong Kong, Berlin in Germany, Panama in mid-America, San Francisco and Washington in the USA and Tokyo in Japan for the reunification of China in opposition to the "Independence of Taiwan". "More than 30 million Chinese all over the world getting together once again for a unanimous opposition to "Taiwan Independence" and advocacy for reunification of China is of great political significance, which will certainly make great contribution to and exert profound influence on the peaceful reunification across the strait." He believed, "the reunification of the Chinese nation sees a bright future ahead." The overseas Chinese in South Africa have always nurtured a fine tradition of patriotism, pointed out Liu Gui, Chinese ambassador to the South Africa, and they have been doing a great deal in promoting the reunification of the motherland and national rejuvenation. This time, they set off to establish the All Africa Association for Peaceful Reunification of China. It is a kind of meritorious deeds that are sure to be revered by the latecomers. Also addressed at the conference were Wang Kebin, President of the Association for Peaceful Reunification of China and Zhang Manxin, President of the European Association for Peaceful Reunification of China and others. The inaugurating conference has also received some 26 letters of congratulations from all over the world. At the conference for the peaceful reunification of China held that afternoon, Tang Shubei, director of the Research Center on the Relations across the Strait made a speech. It consists of the four major parts: One China principle is the basis of the relations across the Taiwan strait; To adhere to the one China principle caters to the interest of the people in Taiwan; the 1992 consensus expressing the one-China principle as reached between the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait and the Strait Exchange Foundation has embodied the equal status for negotiation across the strait and the forces for "Taiwan Independence" will be difficult to get anything out of it and the reunification of China is a great trend in the world. At the closing ceremony the " 'Johannesburg Declaration' was announced jointly by the overseas Chinese and Chinese expatriates all over the world for the peaceful reunification of China'. The declaration pointed out: the activities conducted on the African Continent in opposition to the "Taiwan Independence" and for the Reunification of China have once again expressed the strong wishes of over 30 million Chinese living abroad for the early reunification of China in opposition to the "Independence of Taiwan". The declaration held that the conference has reached the following three points in common: First of all, the early realization of peaceful reunification of China is where lies the fundamental interest of the Chinese nation, and we appeal that both sides of the strait will on the one-China principle put an end to the past faults and antagonistic state of affairs across the strait as early as possible to start the talk for the realization of peaceful reunification of China. This is a common expectation of the Chinese people on both sides of the strait and all the Chinese living abroad. Secondly, to expand economic and cultural exchanges across the strait so as to create favorable conditions for the peaceful reunification of the motherland. The further expansion of economic cooperation across the strait will be complimentary to and benefit each other, that is conducive to Taiwan's shaking off its predicament. The "Cultural Independence" advocated by the Taiwan Authority and the forces for "Taiwan Independence" will get no support from among the people. And thirdly, Resolutely oppose to any disruptive forces from without in an attempt to sever China. In this world, there is only one China. The motherland's mainland and Taiwan belong to this China and no separation of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity will be allowed. **** 'One-China' Policy Vital for Dialogue: Official A senior Chinese official said over the weekend in Washington that any cross-Straits dialogue must be based on the 1992 consensus and on the acceptance of the one-China principle. A senior Chinese official said over the weekend in Washington that any cross-Straits dialogue must be based on the 1992 consensus and on the acceptance of the one-China principle. "Under that premise, anything can be discussed," said Zhou Mingwei, vice-minister of the Taiwan Affairs Office under China's State Council. He said the one-China principle is the basis for launching cross-Straits dialogue and negotiations, improving cross-Straits relations, promoting exchanges, finally settling the Taiwan question and achieving peaceful reunification. Under the one-China principle, Zhou said, the two sides may shelve the dispute over the political implications of one China, and could respect and identify each other. Otherwise differences between the two sides could lead to disputes, contradictions and even conflicts. Under the one-China principle, "there is only one China in the world, both the mainland and Taiwan belonging to one China. And China's sovereignty and territorial integrity are indivisible," he said. He said that China promotes this principle not to enlarge differences, but to resolve them. Zhou said the reason for the deadlock in cross-Straits relations is that Taiwanese authorities have neither accepted nor faced the existing 1992 consensus. They also have shown no willingness to accept that the one-China principle must be the premise of cross-Straits dialogue, Zhou said. Zhou arrived in New York last Sunday for a seven-day visit to exchange views with US Government officials and scholars on the Taiwan question and other issues of common interest. **** China to Raise Machinery, Electronic Goods Exports by 10 Percent. Despite unfavorable international economic environment and many uncertainties, China aims to increase the exports of machinery and electronic products, its largest export items, by 10 percent this year, a leading trade official said in Beijing Sunday. China aims to increase the exports of machinery and electronic products, its largest export items, by 10 percent this year, a leading trade official said here Sunday. Shi Guangsheng, minister of foreign trade and economic cooperation, told a national conference that although China faces an unfavorable international economic environment and many uncertainties, there is still room for growth in the export of machinery and electronic products. Expected growth well-grounded Shi said that he based his confidence on the fact that China- made machinery and electronic products now have a higher technical level, and the export of such products to the traditional markets such as the U.S., Japan and the European Union have kept growing steadily. In addition, the export of such products to other markets has surged over the past few years. So far, the number of countries and regions whose imports of China-made machinery and electronic products have reached 100 million U.S. dollars has topped 60. China exported a total of 118.8 billion U.S. dollars-worth of machinery and electronic products last year, up 12.8 percent. The figure accounted for 44.6 percent of the country's total exports which grew by 6.8 percent. The turnover of machinery and electronic products worldwide hit 3.1 trillion U.S. dollars last year, and China only took a share of 3.8 percent, a situation that Shi described as unsuitable for China's economic strength and global trading status. Supporting measures to be taken Chang Xiaocun, director of the ministry's Department of Machinery and Electronic Import and Export Products, said, " Considering the fact that the world economy has entered a recession and there are many uncertainties ahead, it is very likely that we will realize the goal of 10 percent growth this year." To ensure the growth, Chang said, China is to take a series of supporting measures in the areas of finance and technical upgrading, and make great efforts to explore new markets. Imports also stressed Meanwhile, China is to increase the imports of machinery and electronic goods this year, following a growth of 17.2 percent last year, said the director. China has cut its customs duties across the board following its entry into the World Trade Organization, and the country's economy is expected to keep growing at a stable rate, he said. Major machinery and electronic products to be imported will cover high-tech and new technological products, key equipment and raw materials that China is short of, he said. China total imports and exports of machinery and electronic products reached 239.31 billion U.S. dollars-worth last year, up 15 percent. Imports of these products rose 17.2 percent to 120.5 billion U.S. dollars-worth. Motor vehicles, medical apparatus and instruments, and environmental protection equipment were among the 70 kinds of imported machinery and electronic products whose import volume each topped 100 million U.S. dollars. Last year, the imports of high- and new-tech machinery and electronic products stood at 62.6 billion U.S. dollars, rising by 22.4 percent and accounting for 97.6 percent of China's total high-tech imports. About one-third of the imports were handled by state-owned firms. Analysts attributed the rapid growth to China's pro-active fiscal policy, the start of the campaign to develop the country's western region and the policy of expanding domestic demand. The machinery and electronic products imported from the Asian market last year increased by 9.9 percent to 71.79 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for 59.6 percent of all such imports. Currently, China's main sources of imported machinery and electronic products are Japan, the European Union, the United States, Taiwan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Imports from these places accounted for 77.5 percent of last year's total. **** China Begins Three Gorges Reservoir Bed Clean-up. Boom! Boom! Boom! A series of explosions blasted away a building in the reservoir area of China' s Three Gorges Project at 13:40 hours Sunday, marking the start of the countdown to water storage and power generation at the Three Gorges Project. "This is the prelude to evacuation on a broader scale and the countdown to water injection and power generation," said Gan Yuping, deputy mayor of this western China metropolis and deputy director of the Committee for the Construction of Three Gorges Project Under the State Council. Xue Fengsong, an explosives expert, said that all the debris will be shipped to a designated place and buried deep underground. Meanwhile, ancient bas-reliefs have been cut from a cliff at Qutang Gorge, one of the Three Gorges, and transported to a safe site about 600 meters downstream. This was the first batch of ancient cultural relics to be moved from the construction site of the Three Gorges Project, the largest of its kind in the world. Not far from the same cliff, excavation of the ruins of a city of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) is well under way. The city wall of the Fengjie County town, ancient tombs and typical ancient houses will also be moved above the reservoir water line before the county is submerged. The relocation work drew journalists from dozens of local and overseas media organizations, as well as a large crowd of on- lookers. The demolished building was that of the Yong'an Township Government, which was built 20 years ago. It collapsed in a matter of seconds. Soon afterwards, newly appointed county head Fei Wenbin and his colleagues headed for their new office building, which is 1,000 sq. meters larger than the original one. The Fengjie County Thermal Power Plant, which was also demolished Sunday, had been closed for causing heavy pollution. Its 300 workers had been assigned new jobs and the retired workers receive their pension once a month at the county social security bureau, said the factory's old director Liu Keming. Construction of the Three Gorges Project will inundate 632 sq km of land. When the dam is completed in 2009, 1,100 villages will be submerged. One third of the 1.03 million residents have already moved to new homes in resettlement villages. Another 100,000 people are expected to move out this year. A number of new cities for resettlers have been built on both sides of the Yangtze River. At the new site of the Fengjie County seat, three schools have already begun to recruit students. Two hospitals and several department stores have opened there. The largest-scale rescue of cultural relics in Chinese history has entered a critical stage. In order to save the most important cultural relics before the first-stage water storage of the Three Gorges Dam starts in June 2003, archaeologists from across the nation are working day and night at some 1,000 sites of cultural relics. "The resettlement towns will house as many vestiges of ancient civilization as possible," said Shao Weidong, an official in charge of the archaeological work at the Three Gorges. **** Israel Takes Over West Bank Town. Israeli tanks took control of the West Bank town of Tulkarem on Monday, a local governor said, marking the largest raid of a Palestinian town in 16 months of fighting. Hours earlier, Palestinian protesters marched by the thousands to protest Israel's blockade of Yasser Arafat. Israeli tanks took control of the West Bank town of Tulkarem on Monday, a local governor said, marking the largest raid of a Palestinian town in 16 months of fighting. Hours earlier, Palestinian protesters marched by the thousands to protest Israel's blockade of Yasser Arafat. The governor of Tulkarem, Izzedine Sharif, said tanks entered the town from all directions before dawn, as four helicopters flew above. Another Palestinian security official said about 100 tanks and armored personnel carriers participated in the raid. Sharif said soldiers imposed a curfew, then moved from house to house, arresting dozens of suspected militants. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. In 16 months of fighting, Israeli troops have repeatedly entered Palestinian cities, taking control of some neighborhoods for limited periods. Monday's raid marked the first time that forces took up positions in an entire town. Troops also surrounded the two adjacent Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps, apparently preparing to enter, the governor said. The raid came in reprisal for an attack by a Palestinian militant on a banquet hall in Israel last week. The assailant killed six Israelis before being shot dead by Israeli police. The government of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has confined Arafat to Ramallah since December, saying he will not leave until the Palestinian Authority arrests the assassins of an Israeli Cabinet minister. Israel tightened its grip Friday, moving tanks and armored personnel carriers just outside the gates of Arafat's office. On Sunday, several hundred Palestinian journalists and academics who support Arafat's Fatah movement marched to the Palestinian broadcasting center destroyed in an Israeli explosion a day earlier. **** Musharraf Sees Little Possibility of Pak-India War. "I don't think there can be war, unless there's some mad action," Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf has said. "I don't think there can be war, unless there's some mad action," Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf has said. Musharraf made the remarks while responding to a question that if there would be war between India and Pakistan in an interview with Newsweek, the local press reported on Sunday. "But, there is always a possibility," he stated, adding that India has deployed the bulk of its forces along the border in a high state of alert. Musharraf agreed that Kashmir remains to be the "world's most worrisome" dispute. A risk of nuclear conflict between Pakistan and India will remain unless the core Kashmir issue is resolved because one of the most serious conflicts in the world is Kashmir, Musharraf said when asked that some people believe this region of the world has the highest risk of nuclear war. "The dispute has been going on for almost 50 years. Both countries being nuclear-capable, certainly one realizes this must be dangerous," Musharraf said. He said, "We have to resolve the core issue, otherwise this danger remains. We must resolve the core issue." Asked if he gave Colin Powell a message to take to India, he said, "Yes, I told him that we are for peace with India. (We are in favor of) reconciliation, dialogue, moving forward on Kashmir. We can resolve the issue through negotiations." **** Important Move to Strengthening Construction of Party's Work Style: Editorial. A new phase is appearing in the construction of the Party's style of work through the efforts of the whole Party after the Sixth Plenary Session of the 15th Party Central Committee. The "Opinions of the General Offices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Further Simplifying Conferences and Documents" grasps the outstanding problem in the construction of the Party's style of work, which has received strong reactions from cadres and the masses, lays down explicit stipulations and sets concrete requirements. A new phase is appearing in the construction of the Party's style of work through the efforts of the whole Party after the Sixth Plenary Session of the 15th Party Central Committee. The "Opinions of the General Offices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Further Simplifying Conferences and Documents" grasps the outstanding problem in the construction of the Party's style of work, which has received strong reactions from cadres and the masses, lays down explicit stipulations and sets concrete requirements. This is an important move for implementing the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session and strengthening and improving construction of the Party's style of work. Leading comrades at all levels must, in the light of the realities of their own regions and departments, resolutely implement the spirit of the document and carry it out in real earnest, they must make up their minds to simplify conferences and documents and improve the style of work in this regard. In the aspects of reducing the quantity of conference activities, cutting down the scale of conference activities, exercising strict control over expenses on conference activities, setting strict procedures for reporting conference activities to the higher level for approval; the principle for leading comrades to attend a conference and the procedures for reporting to the higher level for approval of inviting leading comrades to attend a conference; and improving news reports on leading comrades attending conference activities; vigorously reducing the quantity of the documents issued, further narrowing the scope for the distribution of documents or bulletins, the sending of official documents to other organizations in accordance with subordinate relationship and limit of authority and the great efforts made to improve the quality of documents and bulletins, etc., the "Opinions" purposefully sets forth clear, concrete and practicable measures and methods, so that there are rules to abide by and basis to follow in simplifying conferences and documents and conveniences are provided for inspection and implementation. These stipulations, measures and requirements stress that leading organizations and leading personnel should take the lead to do so, which is a demonstration of the central authorities' determination to exercise strict administration of the Party and the government. In recent years, the Party Central Committee and the State Council have repeatedly stressed the need to improve the style of work, to go deep into reality, to simplify conferences and documents in real earnest, and have adopted some practical measures with definite, satisfactory results, however, the situation characterized by too many conferences, documents and bulletins has not been fundamentally changed. There are three main reasons for this situation: First, the lack of adequate ideological attention. Although leading organizations and leading personnel have noticed the problems of too many conferences and documents and have been aware of the need to simplify conferences and documents, ideologically, however, they still lack adequate understanding of the seriousness and harmfulness of "a mountain of documents and a sea of meetings", they fail to understand the question from the high plane that concerns the images of the Party and the government and concerns the blood-and-flesh ties between the Party and the masses. Second, failure to play adequate exemplary roles. The serious situation of formalism and bureaucracy existing in the work of some leading organizations and leading cadres. In carrying out their work, they are accustomed to assessing work by the standard regarding whether a meeting has been held, a document has been issued and a leading comrade has delivered a speech, and they are accustomed to the practice of implementing the spirit of a conference by simply holding a meeting and implementing the spirit of a document by issuing another document of their level. Third, failure to exercise effective supervision and implementation. Although many stipulations have been laid down on the simplification of conferences and documents, due to the situation featuring many arrangements and less inspections long existing in this field of work, some have failed to grasp the work firmly, some not really grasp it, some simply do not grasp it. To remedy this, we must further enhance our understanding, insist that leading cadres and leading organizations at all levels take the lead in doing related work, intensify supervision and inspection and regard simplification of conferences and documents as a long-term work and grasp it unremittingly. Simplifying conferences and documents is conducive to overcoming formalism and bureaucracy, improving methods of leadership and work, urging leading cadres at various levels to devote more energy and time to thinking of major events and taking stock of the whole situation, going deep into the masses and reality, concentrating efforts on studying and solving major problems cropping up in development and stability. Simplifying conferences and documents does not mean abandoning conferences and documents, but rather it means the need to simplify unnecessary conferences and documents, to further improve the quality of conferences and documents. Leading cadres and leading organizations at all levels must exhibit a high sense of political responsibility and mission, do solid work single-mindedly, so that conferences and documents can solve problems, become effective, and enhance their guidance role and authority. The "Opinions" was published at the beginning of the New Year. As a rule, this is the peak period for the holding of conferences and the issuance of documents. It is of important significance to earnestly implementing the "Opinions", further simplifying conferences and documents and improving the style of holding conference and issuing document. Conscientiously putting the requirements of the "three represents" into practice and ensuring success in the work of simplifying conferences and documents in real earnest will definitely help strengthen the confidence of the whole Party in raising construction of the Party's style of work to a new level. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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