Extracts. Senior Tibetan Official Reiterates Anti-Separatism Policy Raidi executive deputy secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said Saturday that any attempt to split the country is destined to fail. Raidi said nobody, no matter who he is, is allowed to split the motherland at any time and in any form. He said, it is the common aspiration of the Chinese people to safeguard national unity and to realize the complete reunification of the motherland. "Any attempt against this historical trend is doomed to failure, " he said. Raidi made the remark in an interview with a group of reporters from Beijing. He reiterated that since Tibet was peacefully liberated in 1951, it has gained a great leap forward in almost all aspects of the economy and culture. "I am an eyewitness of the all the historic changes in the past half century," said the official, who was once a serf before the liberation in 1951. "We firmly oppose any attempt to interfere in China's internal affairs and separating Tibet from China," he said. The official also suggests that foreigners, who are lacking in an vivid and impartial impression of Tibet, should come and see the real situation in Tibet for themselves. **** Premier Spells Out Proposals for Closer Sino-Pakistan Ties Visiting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Saturday hailed the close Sino-Pakistan economic cooperation and put forward proposals to further enhance and expand the relations between the two countries to greater height and width. In his speech at the luncheon hosted by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Zhu thanked FPCCI and friends from the Pakistani business community for their useful work in promoting Sino-Pakistan friendship, economic cooperation and trade. Noting that that the bilateral trade between China and Pakistan hit a record high, the premier stressed the need to build on what has been achieved and to expand bilateral trade and investment. He said that the present sustained economic growth of the two countries, especially China's strategy of developing its west and Pakistan's endeavor to develop agriculture and infrastructure, provided favorable conditions and good opportunities to business communities of both sides. Zhu put forward a four-point proposal to achieve closer economic ties between the two countries, which includes: * 1. To strengthen agricultural cooperation with focus on such fields as farm tool manufacturing, crop amelioration, farm produce processing and eco-agriculture. * 2. To accelerate cooperation in the field of infrastructure through continuing contribution to Pakistan's economic development and by encouraging Chinese enterprises to take an active part in its program. * 3. To open up new spheres for economic cooperation and trade such as broadband network and software development in the hope that these may become new growth points in Sino-Pakistan cooperation. * 4. To seek new ways of cooperation in the forms of joint ventures, exclusively-foreign-owned companies and leasing. Serving as an indispensable and important basis for Sino- Pakistan relations, the economic cooperation between the two friendly neighbors would be brought to a new high in the new century with concerted efforts by both sides, said Zhu at the conclusion of his speech. Iftikhar Ali Malik, president of FPCCI, the apex body of trade and industry in Pakistan, delivered an address expressing deep gratitude to Zhu for attending the luncheon. He extended appreciation to China's continuous assistance to Pakistan for years and expressed his hope for further economic cooperation with China. Pakistani Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf, Foreign Minister Abdus Sattar and Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz were also present at the luncheon. **** Peace and Development in South Asia Vital to World Prosperity: Chinese Premier Visiting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said in Islamabad on Friday that peace and development in the South Asian region were vitally linked with the stability and prosperity of Asia and the world at large. In his speech at a dinner held by Pakistani Chief Executive Musharraf, Zhu said that South Asia was an important component not only of Asia, but also of the whole world. As a close neighbor to South Asia, "China cares about the situation in the region and sincerely hopes that it will be able to maintain peace and stability and that countries in the subcontinent can live together in peace ... and work in concert for a secure, harmonious and economically developing South Asia." He further explained that "this not only conforms to the common aspiration and fundamental interests of all peoples in the region, but also is beneficial to peace and stability in Asia and the world at large." He promised the Chinese side was "ready to work together with all countries in South Asia including Pakistan and contribute our due share to realizing this goal." On bilateral relations, Zhu said that over the past 50 years, China and Pakistan have had mutual understanding and support on a number of major international issues. Pakistan has always spoken up for China at international forums, firmly supporting China's efforts to safeguard national unity and territorial integrity and upholding justice and dignity in the cause of international human rights. In the new century, China and Pakistan should continue to step up their cooperation, safeguard the solidarity and interests of the developing countries in a common endeavor to promote the establishment of a just and rational new international political and economic order, Zhu added. Speaking at the dinner, Musharraf extended his warm welcome to Zhu, his wife Lao An and all other Chinese guests on the historic occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, describing Zhu's visit a landmark in the history of Pak-China traditional friendship.. Musharraf said, "our two countries hold similar views on regional and international issues; we are opposed to international or regional hegemony and we cooperate with each other closely in international fora." "We share the international concern at the development and deployment of ballistic missile defense which could jeopardize strategic stability, trigger a new arms race and undermine international efforts aimed at arms control and disarmament," added Musharraf. Musharraf concluded his speech by saying that "we will work together with our Chinese friends in pursuit of our shared goals and further strengthen this model bilateral relationship," which remained "a vital element for the peace and stability of South Asia and beyond." Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji arrived in Islamabad on Friday noon, kicking off a four-day official visit to Pakistan. **** Seoul Says Two Koreas Could Meet US in Vietnam North and South Korea might hold talks with the United States on the sidelines of an Asian regional meeting in Hanoi next week, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said on Friday. "We cannot guarantee it (an unofficial contact between the two Koreas and the United States), but there is a high possibility," said Ryu Jeong-hyun, deputy director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The main topic of the Association of South East Asian Nations Regional Forum discussions would be defense and security issues and it comes after the United States said on Thursday it would resume talks with North Korea, adding support to Seoul's "Sunshine Policy" towards its old foe. No official schedule has been set between the three countries but a "natural" get-together would be possible at an unofficial banquet on May 16, in the run-up to official meetings between May 17-18, the deputy director added. Pyongyang has selected Ri Yong-ho, counselor at North Korea's Foreign Ministry, to head the North's three-member delegation. The local Yonhap news agency reported an official of the South's Foreign Ministry as saying the choice of Ri, who is in charge of confidence-building measures at the ministry, suggested the likelihood of informal contacts between the North and US delegation leader James Kelly. Kelly is an Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
