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from The News Internet Edition Thurs. April 25, 2002 WORLD NEWS http://jang.com.pk/thenews/apr2002-daily/25-04-2002/world/w9.htm China will protect nations from bullies, says Hu KUALA LUMPUR: China's heir apparent, Hu Jintao, said on Wednesday his country would retain an independent foreign policy and would resist any attempts by strong nations to force their interests on the weak. Hu, speaking in Malaysia en route to the United States, is the favourite to succeed Jiang Zemin as head of the Communist Party this year and as China's president in 2003. "(China) opposes the strong lording it over the weak and the big bullying the small and has long pledged not to seek hegemony, not to join any military bloc, and not to pursue its own spheres of influence," Hu said in a speech to the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute in Kuala Lumpur. He was to meet Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for talks expected to address everything from trade and investment to terrorism. Both China and Malaysia joined the U.S.-led war on terror after the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington and have arrested Islamic militants at home. But they also share doubts about U.S. unilateralism. The 58-year-old Hu makes his first official visit to the United States from April 27 to May 3. He will visit Honolulu, San Francisco, New York and Washington, where he is expected to meet President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. ASIAN PARTNERS: Before that, on April 26, he visits Singapore, the largely ethnic Chinese city state whose business community, like the sizable, wealthy ethnic Chinese minority in Malaysia, is looking for investment opportunities in the ancestral homeland. In his speech, Hu praised Malaysia's achievements brought about by Mahathir's policy of rapid industrialisation during his 21 years in power. He later went on a walkabout through Kuala Lumpur's ritziest shopping mall beneath the Petronas Twin Towers, the world's tallest building. Hu emphasised that China's emergence as an economic power should be viewed positively by Southeast Asian nations who have seen more foreign investors attracted to China. "History has continued and will continue to prove that China is a positive force making for an economically stronger and more stable Asia," he said. China signed an accord with the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in November to establish a giant free-trade zone within 10 years. But the export-oriented ASEAN members fear being undercut by China's low-cost producers while China needs Southeast Asia's resources, notably oil, gas and forest products, to fuel its rapid industrialisation. "Our conclusion, therefore, is clear: China's development would be impossible without Asia, and Asia's prosperity without China," Hu said. Southeast Asian firms are eyeing investment opportunities in China. Malaysian automaker Proton this year bought a 49 percent stake in China's Goldstar Heavy Industrial Co. Ltd, helping it gain a presence in the Chinese market. Hu visits Penang, the home of Malaysia electronics export industry, on Thursday. ===== Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace. Weekly peace walks around Lake Merritt in Oakland. Starts & ends at the colonnade between Grand & Lakeshore Avenues, 3 P.M., every Sunday. Info: (510)763-8712, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or http://www.webwm.com/LMNOP __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - your guide to health and wellness http://health.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
