Thursday, November 23, 2000, updated at 11:33(GMT+8)
KNNSC Supports New Peace Treaty in Korean Peninsula
The Korean Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission
(KNNSC) said Wednesday that its three members,
Sweden, Poland and Switzerland, all support drafting
a new peace treaty to replace the present armistice
mechanism in the Korean Peninsula.
According to a communique issued by the Swedish
foreign ministry, the KNNSC met in Stockholm and
agreed that the 1953 armistice should be replaced by
a peace treaty.
In the communique, the three members noted that
although the present capacity of KNNSC is limited,
before a new peace treaty is drawn up, KNNSC and the
armistice mechanism should continue to function.
The communique noted that all three members are
satisfied with the past year's progress on the
Peninsula and that they would like to continue
working for stability in the region.
The KNNSC members last met in October 1999 in Bern,
capital of Switzerland.
****
Thursday, November 23, 2000, updated at 12:34(GMT+8)
Senior CPC Official Meets Iranian Delegation
------------------------------------------------------
Wei Jianxing, a standing member of the Political
Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist
Party of China (CPC), met in Beijing November 22 with
a delegation from the Worker's House of Iran, led by
General- secretary Alireza Mahjoub.
Wei, also a member of the Secretariat of the CPC
Central Committee and president of the All-China
Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), briefed the
guests on China's current political and economic
situation and the upcoming tenth five-year plan
(2001- 2005).
He noted that China's economy and labor conditions
have undergone profound changes since the reform and
opening-up, saying that the Chinese trade unions bear
the enormous responsibilities of protecting the legal
rights and interests of workers.
In recent years, Chinese trade unions have been
trying hard to keep the balance between protecting
the basic rights and interests of the workers and
taking into consideration the overall interests of
the Chinese people as a whole, Wei said.
Chinese trade unions have also been active in
protecting the democratic rights, and spiritual and
cultural aspirations of the workers, he said.
Wei said that he hopes the trade unions of the two
countries will further their exchange and friendship
and learn from each other.
Mahjoub praised the achievements China has made in
its reform and opening-up drive. He attributed the
achievements to the leadership of the CPC, the hard
work of the Chinese people, and the policies suited
to China's conditions.
Mahjoub also noted that the trade unions of the two
countries have a long-term friendship, adding that
the Iranian trade unions are willing to further the
exchanges and cooperation with their Chinese
counterparts.
The Iranian guests are here at the invitation of the
ACFTU.
****
Wednesday, November 22, 2000, updated at 22:37(GMT+8)
President Jiang Zemin Meets Namibian President Sam
Nujoma
President Jiang Zemin met with Namibian President Sam
Nujoma November 22 in Beijing.
Calling President Nujoma an old friend of the Chinese
people, Jiang said that he met with him on several
occasions, discussing Sino-Namibian relations and the
international issues and reaching broad consensus. He
congratulated Nujoma on his reelection as chairman of
the Southern African Development Community and his
success in presiding over the United Nations
Millennium Summit.
Jiang said bilateral relations between China and
Namibia have maintained a good development momentum,
and there have been frequent exchanges of visits, and
the two countries have trusted, supported and helped
each other, and have been "all-weather friends" no
matter how the international situation changes.
The two countries are working hard to promote
economic and trade cooperation, Jiang said, adding
that enormous potential exists for mutually
beneficial cooperation. As long as the two sides find
suitable ways and areas of cooperation, they will
have business opportunities.
He said that this year marks the 10th anniversary of
the establishment of Sino-Namibian diplomatic
relations, and the two countries have had fruitful
cooperation in international affairs, political and
other areas. China is satisfied with that.
The development of long-term, stable and all-round
relations of cooperation between the two countries is
of significance to pushing forward cooperation among
developing countries and promoting world peace and
progress, he said.
Nujoma said the Namibian government and people highly
value the traditional friendship with China, and
Sino-Namibian friendship is deeply rooted in the
hearts of the people, and the Chinese government and
people had offered moral and material assistance to
the Namibian people when the latter fought for
national independence and liberation. He said Namibia
is satisfied with the growth of bilateral relations,
expressing the hope that the two governments will
intensify efforts to promote economic and trade
cooperation, especially in the areas of agriculture
and fisheries.
He also spoke highly of the China-Africa Cooperation
Forum, which was held in Beijing last month, and said
that such a forum will help promote the development
of relations between China and African countries.
Jiang said the forum was a complete success thanks to
joint efforts. The two document endorsed at the forum
-- the Beijing Declaration and the guideline for
economic and social development cooperation --
advocate the establishment of a new international
political and economic order and form a new framework
for Sino- African cooperation.
He said that he visited the African continent three
times in recent years, and met with many African
leaders on various international occasions, where he
feels that African leaders have a strong sense of
responsibility and good aspirations for the stability
and enlightenment of the continent.
Africa has a vast territory and abundant resources.
Therefore, it has an enormous potential for
development and is full of hope, Jiang said, adding
that peace and stability are the prerequisite for the
progress in Africa.
He said that China supports African countries to
independently and peacefully settle conflicts in the
African continent through consultation and in the
spirit of unity and national reconciliation.
****
Thursday, November 23, 2000, updated at 12:03(GMT+8)
Undergrowth of China's Automobile Industry
One the one hand, many completed automobile
manufacturers cannot meet the quota of production,
and their production capacity has been laid idle for
a long time. Factories have loudly called for
starting up the market and stimulating consumption;
on the other hand, new automobile projects have been
started one after another. There are now nearly 30
factories producing various types of automobiles
nationwide.
On the one hand, designated automobile factories with
investment of several billion or tens of billion yuan
shouted determinedly, "There is no space for price
reduction, the price of sedan cars must not be cut";
on the other hand, some unlicensed automobile
factories, acting contrary to them, have forced the
price down to a very low point.
On the one hand, designated factories blamed the
competent department for their "failure in
macro-control"; on the other hand, "unlicensed"
factories censured the designated factories,
demanding for competition on an equal footing. The
competent asserted that it would strengthen
macro-control and repeatedly indicated that it would
approve not even a single new project. However, when
it come to specific projects, it approved one project
after another.
The framework of a market economy has initially taken
shape over the past 22 years of reform and opening
up, the most competitive auto industry, however,
still remains under the planned economy system.
Without competition in its real sense, the automobile
industry will never grow up.
Steady Development In Auto Industry
During the "Ninth Five-Year Plan" period, the auto
industry, one of China's pillar industries has
witnessed a steady growth. The repetition in the
construction of auto-manufacturing industry has got
contained and with its restructuring strengthened the
economic benefit in mass-production has begun to show
up.
Statistics show that in 1999, the volume of auto
sales increased to 1.83 million cars, a yearly
average increase of 6.33% from 1.46 million in 1995.
By the end of 1998, the private cars accreted to
4.2365 million from 2.4996 million in1995, a rise of
23.615%.
****
Wednesday, November 22, 2000, updated at 21:56(GMT+8)
Tibetan Leader Meets Japanese Journalist
Yang Chuantang, vice-chairman of the Tibetan
Autonomous Regional government, said Wednesday that
the exposition and denouncement of the Dalai Lama
does not refer to the religion, and it is directed at
the Dalai Lama, because he engages in activities
aimed at splitting the motherland under the pretext
of religion.
"The policy on religion of the Communist Party of
China and the Chinese government remains unchanged,
and the freedom of religious beliefs is protected by
law," Yang said in an interview November 22 with
Horie Yoshito, Shanghai bureau chief of Japan's Asahi
Shimbun.
He said that the key to Tibet's development is how
the region takes advantage of its natural resources,
location and policies, and the regional government
will accelerate Tibet's development by taking
effective measures, including modernizing agriculture
and animal husbandry, improving the environment and
developing science and education.
****
Wednesday, November 22, 2000, updated at 21:56(GMT+8)
Foreign Ministry Spokesman on China-UN Human Rights
Cooperation
Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said Wednesday
(November 22) that China is ready to promote
cooperation with the Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights on "a gradual
basis and through equal consultation."
Sun made the remark while briefing journalists on the
recent visit to China by the UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights, Mary Robinson, who was here Monday and
Tuesday as guest of the Chinese government.
During the visit, Chinese President Jiang Zemin and
Vice Premier Qian Qichen met with Robinson. She also
attended a symposium on economic, social and cultural
rights.
Under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Robinson
signed with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang
Guangya, the two sides will carry out a technical
cooperation program in the area of human rights.
Sun said that during the China visit, Robinson
exchanged views with her Chinese hosts on human
rights issues and "further enhanced mutual
understanding" in that regard.
Robinson described the signing of the MOU as "another
significant move following China's signing of the two
international human rights covenants", and her visit
to China as "satisfactory", according to the
spokesman.
Jiang Meets UN Human Rights High Commissioner
President Jiang Zemin said different countries should
join efforts to explore effective ways in promoting
and protecting human rights through dialog based on
equality and mutual respect when meeting with Mary
Robinson.
The president said the Chinese Government has always
supported international exchange and cooperation in
the area of human rights because each country has its
own way, approach and process in realizing their
human rights aspirations due to its specific history,
culture, social system and development level.
Vice-Premier Meets Mary Robinson
Vice Premier Qian Qichen told the visiting United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary
Robinson that the Chinese government advocates
international cooperation in the area of human rights
and hopes to further promote cooperation with other
countries in this regard.
During a meeting with Robinson, Qian hailed the
signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the
development and implementation of human rights
technical cooperation programs between Vice Foreign
Minister Wang Guangya and Robinson.
MOU on Human Rights Signed
China and the Office of United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights reached an agreement on
November 20 with officials from both sides signing a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), under which the
two sides will carry out a technical cooperation
program in the area of human rights.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights, Mary Robinson, described the MOU as "a
milestone in China's development of its human rights
programs with reference to the international human
rights standards" and "a significant move made by
China."
****
Wednesday, November 22, 2000, updated at 21:56(GMT+8)
Officials Punished for Titanic-like Wreckage
Seventeen people have been disciplined or put under
judicial investigation for last year's catastrophic
wreckage on the Yellow Sea, off the coast of east
China, which caused 282 deaths and 90 million yuan in
property loss, according to an official announcement.
Four of them, including the general manager and his
deputy, of the Yantai Ferry Car Company, of Yantai
City, Shandong Province, were expelled from the
company and the Communist Party of China and are now
under judicial investigation.
The 13 others, including Li Chunting, governor of
Shandong Province, and Huang Zhendong, minister of
communications, have received administrative
punishments of varying degrees.
Part of Sunken Dashun Refloated
Part of the ship Dashun, which has been upside down
for more than six months in the Yellow Sea, was
refloated June 1.
On November 24, 1999, "Dashun", the ferryboat with
262 passengers and 40 crew on board, capsized off the
coast of Yantai due to bad weather, huge waves, and
errors made by the captain, Qu Hengming, and the
crew. The captain's death has prevented him from
judicial persecution.
President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji showed
great concern over the accident. Vice-Premier Wu
Bangguo rushed to Yantai on behalf of the central
government.
The vessel was salvaged in June this year.
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