Extracts. Arafat Arrives in Beijing for Working Visit President of the State of Palestine and Chairman of the Palestinian National Authority Yasser Arafat arrived here early Friday as guest of Chinese President Jiang Zemin. Describing the tour as "a working visit", Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sun Yuxi told Xinhua that Arafat is to meet Chinese leaders later Friday and brief the Chinese leadership on the current situation of the Middle East. The lingering Palestinian-Israeli conflict has caused heavy casualties and aroused close attention from the international community. The Chinese government has repeatedly called for "restraint of the maximum from both Israel and Palestine, and especially Israel, " and urged the two sides to resume negotiations. **** Arafat Briefs Indian Leader on Middle East Palestine leader Yasser Arafat briefed Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee Thursday in New Delhi on the prevailing situation in the Middle East following escalation of violence between Palestinian people and Israelis, an official source said. Arafat, who arrived in the Indian capital Thursday, informed the Indian leader of the various aspects of the evolving situation in West Asia and moves being taken to restore peace in the region, the source said. Arafat, who visited the South Asian country in August last year, is scheduled to leave for Beijing Thursday afternoon after his 11- hour stay in the South Asian country. His planned meeting with Indian President Kocheril Raman Narayanan has been called off since "the president is indisposed," a government official said. Earlier this month, Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh held talks with Arafat and Israel Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, who briefed him about the situation in the Middle East. New Delhi has watched with concern the escalation of violence in the area and appealed for peaceful solution to the conflict between Palestine and Israel. India has supported establishment of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions and the principle of "land for peace". India has maintained that all countries in the region including Palestine and Israel have a right to exist within secured internationally recognized borders. **** Arabs Reach Accord on Supporting Palestinians: Qatari FM Arab foreign ministers have reached a "secret" decision on how to support the Palestinian intifada, or uprising, against Israeli occupation at an emergency meeting on the current Mideast situation, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabir al-Thani said late Wednesday in Cairo. "We have made a decision on how to provide support for the Palestinian intifada, but it should not be publicized right now," Sheikh Hamad told reporters at the conclusion of the ministerial meeting, held at the headquarters of the Arab League (AL) in Cairo. Sheikh Hamad, chairman of the meeting, said that the issue on activating Arab boycott against Israel is yet to be further discussed, adding that it is up to individual Arab country to decide whether they will cut off their existing diplomatic relations with the Jewish state. "These Arab countries should by no means damage interests of other Arab brothers when they develop ties with Israel," Sheikh Hamad stressed, adding that his country has decided to freeze all contacts with Israel. The AL arranged the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the request of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat amid escalating Israeli aggressions against Palestinians. The Middle East has been witnessing incessant deadly clashes between the Palestinians and Israelis since last September, in which over 700 people, mostly Palestinians, have been killed. **** Reception Marks 30th Anniversary of Iran-China Ties Iranian Ambassador to China Mohammad Hossein Malaek held a reception Wednesday to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Iran and China. Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan attended the reception. Addressing the reception, Malaek said the Iran-China relations have developed rapidly since 1971, when the two countries established diplomatic relations. Since Iran's Islamic revolution, political relations between the two countries have been constantly developed and deepened, and leaders from both sides have also maintained frequent contact, Malaek said. In terms of economic relations, China has become one of the most important trade partners of Iran, he added. Tang said since China and Iran forged diplomatic ties 30 years ago, efforts from both sides have invigorated their long-standing friendship, which dates back to ancient times, and their friendly cooperation in the political, economic and cultural fields has also recorded great progress with the promotion of the leaders from both nations. Their cooperation in regional and international affairs is also becoming closer, Tang said. At present, the Sino-Iranian political relations remain steady, and trade and economic ties are also developing fast, Tang noted, adding that the Chinese government is willing to continue its efforts in advancing the bilateral ties and making contributions to world peace and development. **** Chinese Defense Minister Meets Ecuadorian Guest Consolidating the relations between the armed forces of China and Ecuador conforms to the fundamental interests of the two peoples and China is willing to join efforts with Ecuador to further develop such relations, said Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian Wednesday. Chi, also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and a state councilor, made the remark when meeting Admiral Miguel Saona Roca, chief of the Joint Command of the Military Forces of Ecuador, and his party. Chi said that since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1980, bilateral relations have been developing smoothly, with exchanges and cooperation in the political, economic, military, cultural and other fields constantly expanding. The two countries have maintained good cooperation in international affairs, Chi said. Chi expressed thanks for Ecuador's support to China on the Taiwan issue. He also briefed the guests on the achievements China has made in economic reforms and opening to the outside world over the past 20 years and China's foreign policy. Saona said he believed his visit will help promote the friendly cooperative relationship between the two countries' armed forces. He expressed willingness to expand exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese side in the military field. Chief of General Staff Meets Ecuadorian Guest China's military is willing to promote a stable and healthy development of the friendly relationship with the military of Ecuador in the 21st century, Fu Quanyou, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, said Wednesday. Fu made the remark in talks with Admiral Miguel Saona, visiting chief of the Joint Command of the Military Forces of Ecuador. Fu, also a member of the Central Military Commission, said that since China and Ecuador established diplomatic relations 21 years ago, the relationship between the two armed forces has maintained a good development momentum alongside the smooth development of the state-to-state relations. The exchanges and cooperation in the military field have helped improve mutual understanding and friendship, he said, expressing the hope that in the 21st century the relations between the two armed forces will continue to develop in a stable and healthy way. He said China's social system and domestic and foreign policies have decided that the country take a defensive national defense policy. China will not practice hegemonism or expansionism, nor will it form military alliance with any other country. Fu expressed appreciation and thanks for the Ecuadorian government's upholding of the one-China policy and having no official exchange with Taiwan. Saona agreed with Fu, saying that the Ecuadorian and Chinese militaries have a lot in common, they both pursue defensive national defense policies and they both actively participate in the economic construction of their own countries. He expressed the hope that the two sides will further reinforce cooperation and exchanges for the steady and healthy development of bilateral relations. He reiterated that the Ecuadorian government will continue to stick to the one-China policy. Saona came to China at the invitation of Fu. Apart from Beijing, he will also visit the cities of Jinan, Xi'an and Shanghai. **** Poll: Over 70% Taiwan Citizens Approve Open-up of "Three Links" According to a survey conducted in Taiwan, 50 percent of Taiwan citizens agree to set loose the policy of "no haste be patient" and more than 70 percent supports the open-up of the "Three links". The main reasons are for improving cross-straits relations and for raising employment opportunities. 50 percent people say that three links are conducive to a quick reunification across the Straits. The survey was taken for the discussion on releasing the policy of "no haste, be patient" and promoting "three links" by way of telephone interview and random sampling. According to a person in charge of OPEN, the conductor of the plebiscite, the possible error margin of the poll is at about 3.1 percent. **** Bush Says US Will Quit ABM Treaty on Its Timetable US President George W. Bush said on Thursday that the United States would withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty on its own timetable. "We will withdraw from the ABM Treaty on our timetable, at a time convenient to America. But I have no specific timetable in mind." Bush told reporters in Texas. "I have made it clear that I think the treaty is a treaty that hampers our ability to keep the peace, to develop defensive weapons necessary to defend America against the true threats of the 21st century," Bush said. "I have said that we will consult closely with our allies in Europe, as well as continue to consult closely with Mr. Putin. I do know that the ABM Treaty hampers us from doing what we need to do. "I do know that Mr. Putin is aware of our desires to move beyond the ABM Treaty, and we will," he added. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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