Extracts. CPPCC Chairman Meets Libyan Guests Li Ruihuan, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) met here Friday with General Coordinator Elhadi M. Abuagela of the People's Socialist Leaderships (PSL) of Libya. Extending a welcome to Abuagela, who is leading a PSL delegation here on his first visit to China, Li noted that China and Libya, although far away from each other and with different cultural traditions, national customs and social systems, have always enjoyed a good relationship under concerted efforts from both sides since they forged diplomatic ties over two decades ago. In international affairs, Li said that the two countries have continuously supported each other, opposed hegemonism and power politics, and striven for safeguarding the rights and interests of their respective countries and the majority of developing countries. Li spoke highly of the Libyan government's firm support for China's reunification cause, just position on non-development of official relations with Taiwan, and valuable support for China on the human rights issue. He said he is convinced that Abuagela's current visit to China will not only promote the exchanges and cooperation between the CPPCC and the PSL, but also further the friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Li expressed his delight with Libyan people, under Ghaddafi's leadership, in choosing the development path suited to Libya's conditions, and their achievements in safeguarding the country's independence and sovereignty, developing national economy and improving people's life. Noting that Libya is an important country in both Africa and the Arab world, Li voiced his sincere wish that the Libyan people would make new advances in building their country and that Libya would play a bigger role in regional affairs. Li said that the good political relations between China and Libya have laid a firm foundation for bilateral economic and trade cooperation, adding that there is vast potential as their economies are highly complementary. China is ready to make joint efforts with Libya to promote bilateral cooperation in railway, petroleum, telecommunications and infrastructure, so as to make new progress in the new century in this regard, Li pointed out. Expressing his appreciation for the warm reception given by the Chinese side, Abuagela conveyed Ghaddafi's greetings to Chinese leaders, and said his visit is aimed at further strengthening bilateral existing friendship. He reiterated that the Libyan government will continue to pursue a "one China" policy and firmly support China's stand on the human rights issue. Li also briefed the visitors on China's multi-party cooperation under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and the political consultation system. Abuagela introduced to Li on PSL's initiation and its work. Yang Rudai, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee also met with the Libyan visitors here Friday. **** US Human Rights Policy Unpopular: Egyptian Newspaper An article carried in Ahram, Al, the most influential newspaper in Egypt <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/egypt.html> , says that the US's ouster from the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) fully indicates that the US policy on human rights is "wrong and unpopular." Diplomats of many countries in charge of the human rights issue hailed the voting off of the US from the UNHRC. Their reason is that what US has done always infringes the interests of the overwhelming majority of countries, especially those of the third world countries. For a long time, US has been favoring Israel <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/israel.html> and has been indifferent to Israel's atrocity in suppressing Palestinian civilians. According to the article, since becoming a member of the UNHRC, US has been bent on imposing on other countries its "narrow and self-centered" concept of the human rights issue. Many countries are deeply disappointed at and worried about the US double standards on the human rights issue and its interference in other countries' internal affairs by taking advantage of the human rights issue. **** Nearly 50% Taiwanese Dissatisfied with New Leadership On the occasion of Taiwan's new leader coming to assume power for one year, poll taking in this island province lately showed that only 25 percent of the Taiwanese are satisfied with their new leadership in contrast to some 48 percent dissatisfied with it, especially with the Democratic Progressive Party. The poll also shows that nearly 50 percent of the Taiwanese are dissatisfied with Huang Jong-tsun, president of the 'Executive Yuan'. Over 50 percent of the Taiwanese are dissatisfied with the island's new leadership in such aspects as cross-Straits relationship, educational reform, and performance of government administration. Poll taking also shows no less than 20 percent of people satisfied with the island's finance, economics and social security compared to a satisfaction rate of 19.93 percent with industrial policy; 18.16 percent, employment; 16.2 percent, social security; and only 14.8 percent, stock market management on the island. Taiwan Leader Is Leading Taiwan to Crisis The signed article, titled "Taiwan Leader Is Leading Taiwan to Crisis", is published in the May issue of Cross-Strait Relations, a magazine run by the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS). Following is the full text of this article: The leader of the Taiwan authorities took office a year ago. He promised the general public of Taiwan a so-called upswing long-range perspective, seriously indicating that he had the "sincerity" and "goodwill" to improve cross-Strait relations. Now, a year has passed, what the Taiwan people see is that in Taiwan, the political situation continues to be in a tumult, the economic situation is deteriorating rapidly, people's wealth is shrinking dramatically, and the unemployment rate is rising steeply; with regard to cross-Strait relationship, the "sincerity" and "goodwill" of the new leader of Taiwan authorities remain in empty phraseology, while his actual deeds have all along been the root cause of tension in the relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and have caused new conflicts. By PD Online staff member Huang Ying **** US "Comprehensive Bill"to Interfere in China's Internal Affairs The US Senate and House of Representatives Wednesday put forward a so-called "Comprehensive Bill on Tibet"which requires US government to adopt extensive measures on Tibet issue including appointing a special coordinator in charge of Tibetan issues and granting more than $2 million as"humanitarian"aid in interference in the internal affairs of China. As it is said the bill titled"2001 Comprehensive Bill on Tibet"appeals to the UN for considering the"Tibet issue"and asks the Secretary of State to find a way to establish an office in Lhasa, the capital town of Tibet Autonomous Region. It was California Democratic Rep. Tom Lantos and Republican Rep. Mark Kirk who had dished out the bill. Presently, the Dalai Lama is paying a three-week visit in the US. According to Associated Press report, Dalai will meet with George W. Bush during his visit to Washington on May 23. China Lashes Out Against U.S. Religious Report Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao Wednesday criticized a U.S. report on international religious affairs, describing it as an attempt to defame China, interfering in China's internal affairs and harm Sino-U.S. relations. Answering a journalist's question, Zhu said the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom released on May 1 its 2001 annual report which makes improper comments on and unwarranted charges against the religious situations in some countries, including China. **** President Jiang Zemin Meets Mexican Newspaperman Chinese President Jiang Zemin <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/people/jiangzemin.shtml> met in Beijing <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/beijing.html> Friday morning with Mario Vazquez Rana, president of "Sol de Mexico <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/mexico.html> ," a leading newspaper in Mexico. Jiang briefed him on Sino-Latin American, Sino-Mexican relations and China's views on some international and regional issues. Bai Keming, president of People's Daily <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/GB/paper464/> and Li Zhaoxing, vice foreign minister, were present on the occasion. Mario Vazquez Rana arrived in Beijing Thursday at the invitation of People's Daily. **** Spanish PM Urges US Deliberation of Missile Defense to Avoid Tension Spanish Prime Minister Jose Marie Aznar Thursday urged the United States to deliberate its missile defense plan to guarantee that it will not cause tension worldwide. Aznar reaffirmed the stance at a press conference after talks with visiting NATO Secretary General George Robertson on the matter. He had earlier asked the United States to hold dialogue with its allies regarding the plan to prevent triggering a new round of arms race. Speaking in parliament on the government position concerning the issue, Minister of Foreign Affairs Josep Piquie Caps said on the same day that the U.S. plan should be discussed within NATO for a long time to avoid a "sense of insecurity" among countries such as Russia, China and the European allies. He said that the United States is accountable to making an accurate explanation on its missile defense plan so that all parties concerned can conduct profound analysis of it. Spanish government sources revealed that a U.S. delegation will visit Madrid next week to brief the Spanish government "in detail." Many Europeans are skeptical about the proposed missile shield's capability after some test failures. They are also concerned that the United States should not tear up key arms control treaties with Russia that limit such defenses. An American delegation started its global tour Tuesday with a visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels to garner support for the U.S. missile defense plan. It is expected to visit Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Italy and Turkey before the talks with Russia. **** Russia, US Conclude Missile Defense Talks Russia welcomed the US-Russian consultations on the missile defense system that concluded Friday, saying they were rich in content, but left more questions than answers. The US "failed to prove it has a clear understanding of how to resolve international security problems without dismantling defensive architecture that has evolved over the past 30 years," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said Friday. Moscow believes the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty is at the heart of this architecture, he added. The spokesman, meanwhile, said the consultations "will continue, namely during the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov to Washington on May 18." A U.S. delegation led by Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz held talks earlier Friday with a Russian interdepartmental delegation of leading experts, headed by Yuri Kapralov, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's security and disarmament department, shortly after their arrival in Moscow. The U.S. team will also meet Deputy Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Trubnikov, Presidential Security Advisor Igor Sergeyev and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Anatoly Kvashnin before leaving here Friday night. U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, a member of the U.S. delegation, told the press here that Washington regards as a sign of progress the very fact of the beginning of a dialogue on missile defense with Russia after the change of the U. S. administration. Hadley stressed it was the first step in discussing the problem, and the discussion will continue in the coming weeks between the presidents of the two countries. During the "good and thorough" consultations, Hadley said, the U.S. delegation notified Russian about certain questions raised in a recent speech of President George W. Bush on national missile defense plans. Russian representatives in their turn raised several important and serious questions. Speaking at the gathering at the National Defense University on May 1, U.S. President George W. Bush committed the United States to building a missile defense shield against ballistic missile attack, saying the United States must move beyond the constraints of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty with Russia. Russia has been strongly opposed to Bush's missile defense plan, saying it is an attempt by the United States to establish absolute military dominance. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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