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Bush, Putin Fail to Reach Deal on Missile Defense. U.S. President George W.Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to reach a deal to allow the United States to build a missile defense system as they ended three days of meetings Thursday. U.S. President George W.Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to reach a deal to allow the United States to build a missile defense system as they ended three days of meetings Thursday. "We have a difference of opinion," Bush said when speaking at a joint press Conference with Putin at Crawford High School. "Our disagreements will not divide us as nations." Putin said that the summit had not been a waste of time and the two leaders aimed to continue discussions, building on what he said was common ground in a shared belief that new-style security threats must be addressed. "We shall continue our discussions," Putin added. Bush had hoped to win an agreement from Putin to abandon or modify the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty, which prohibits national missile defenses. Moscow has opposed any effort to dismantle the treaty, which is viewed as a centerpiece for world strategic stability. Washington has characterized the pact as a relic of the Cold War. **** China's Reserve Army Employ Hi-tech Training Measures. Currently, high-tech training measures are being widely used in China's reserve army and the personnel educational level has been greatly improved. The orders are sent in a few seconds to all battalions and companies via the net. Hi-tech Training Measures Being Widely Used China's reserve army, the youngest force in China, has utilized computer networks to mobilize, assemble and train staff. A reporter recently attended a modern reserve soldier drill taking place in a regiment of an infantry division in East China's Anhui Province. He saw a commander issuing orders by clicking a mouse in the regiment headquarters. The orders were sent in a few seconds to all battalions and companies via the net. Two hours later, over 1,300 reserve officers and soldiers scattered over many villages and towns had arrived in the appointed area with their heavy weapons including anti-aircraft guns, anti-aircraft artillery and rocket guns. Wu Xiaolong, the division commander said that the drill is not only to commemorate the ten year anniversary of Chairman of the Central Military Commission Jiang Zemin's inscription of China's reserve army, but also a good test for the troop's up-to-dateness. In November 1991, Jiang inspected the infantry division and made an inscription for them. In that year, Anhui Province suffered from serious floods and the reserve army made a great contribution to fighting the floods and saving state property. China's reserve army has been listed in the organizational system of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), according to Wu. The reserve army is now unified and has conferred army flag and code names. It is also equipped with some heavy weapons. China's reserve army is one of most important forces to deal with unexpected events and emergency situations. It would also be quickly mobilized should war break out. Tracking Back Development Histroy China's reserve army was first founded in 1955. At that time, Chengdu, Wuhan, Kunming and Lanzhou milltary area commands organized over 100,000 reserve soldiers. But in 1957, the reserve duty system was abolished. In 1983, China reorganized the reserve army. In the 1990s, it was enlarged from a single infantry to a comprehensive force including infantry, artillery, armoured forces, signal corps and antichemical warfare corps. In 1995, China enacted laws to protect the construction of the reserve army. Currently, high-tech training measures are being widely used in China's reserve army and the personnel educational level has been greatly improved. According to Wu, in Anhui reserve army's infantry division, six percent of officers have a Master's degree, 78 percent have graduated from institutes of higher education and 68 percent are technical personnel. The division has also produced their own military software including civil air defence forces software and high-speed mobilization software. Nowadays, the division can offer network drills, network information transmission, network supervision and network commanding. **** China to Help Cuba Recover from Hurricane Aftermath. China will help Cuba overcome the damage of the devastating hurricane Michelle that hit the island a week ago, Mei Zhaorong, President of the Foreign Affairs Institute of China, said Thursday in Havana. China will help Cuba overcome the damage of the devastating hurricane Michelle that hit the island a week ago, Mei Zhaorong, President of the Foreign Affairs Institute of China, said Thursday in Havana. Mei, who arrived here Wednesday for a five-day visit, said he admired the courage shown by the Cuban people in facing the aftermath of hurricane Michelle which left five people dead and caused great economic losses. The passing of the hurricane through the island coincided with the official visit of China's top legislator Li Peng <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/people/lipeng.shtml> . Li announced that the Chinese government would donate 604,000 U.S. dollars to the Cuban government to help with relief efforts. Mei met Thursday with Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Jose Guerra and was to meet other Cuban officials. **** China Attaches Importance to Unique Role of Tunisia in World Arena. Li Peng said Thursday in Tunis that China attaches importance to the unique role Tunisia plays in solving regional and international affairs. He calls for deepening cooperation and coordination on international affairs, especially on the issue of anti-terrorism between two countries. Li Peng Arrives in Tunis for Visit Deepening Bilateral Ties between Two Countries Chinese top lawmaker Li Peng <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/people/lipeng.shtml> said Thursday in Tunis that China attaches importance to the unique role Tunisia <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/tunisia.html> plays in solving regional and international affairs as Tunisia serves as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Li, Chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, made the remarks during talks with his Tunisian counterpart Fouad Mebazaa. He noted that China and Tunisia have maintained good coordination and cooperation in international affairs and made joint endeavor in the cause of world peace and development. Li is now on a friendly official visit to Tunisia. The two leaders exchanged views and reached consensus on issues of deepening bilateral ties and the two parliamentary organs. China would like to further enhance coordination and cooperation with Tunisia in all aspects, and promote to a new stage the vigorous and long stable friendly relations between the two countries in the new century, he said. Both sides make concerted efforts to seek mutual benefits and development together. The two countries have differently domestic conditions and political systems, yet they hold common or similar views on many major international and regional issues, Li said. The exchange and cooperation between Chinese NPC and Tunisia Assembly is an important component of bilateral relations, and such exchange has been continuously developed over the recent years. Li Peng invited Mebazaa to visit China in May next year. Working together for Anti-terrorism Regarding anti-terrorism, Li said China has always been opposed to and condemned terrorism in all forms. Terrorism has posed threat to world peace and security. China insist that the United Nations and its Security Council play their due roles in fight against terrorism and promote international cooperation. Anti-terrorism is an arduous task which must integrate strike with prevention, and wipe out the roots for terrorism. In terms of the situation in Afghanistan, Li pointed out that territory sovereignty must be given consideration in solving the Afghan problem, China proposes to establish a syndicate government with a broad base, which thus can be accepted by all sectors and be in friendly relationship with other countries, especially the neighboring nations, he said. Mebazaa said that Tunisia and China are far away in distance, and with different domestic conditions, but the two hold the same or similar views on many major international issues, that is the base for further enhancement of cooperation in all fields. He said he expects bilateral trade and economic cooperation could be further expanded. Mebazaa congratulated China on its entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) and stressed that Tunisia attached great importance to the event because he believed China understands better the economic situations in developing countries and could carry out candid cooperation with other developing partners. He also agreed to further enhance exchange between parliaments and expressed his support for China's stance on anti-terrorism. **** Jordanian King Meets Chinese Foreign Trade Minister. Jordanian King Abdullah II met with visiting Chinese Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng on bilateral ties on Thursday in Amman. Jordanian King Abdullah II met with visiting Chinese Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng on bilateral ties on Thursday in Amman. During the meeting, the king congratulated China on its recent entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), saying that friendship and cooperative ties between the two countries in economic and trade areas would develop further after China's WTO entry. Shi said that the king's successful visit to China in 1999 and a visit to Jordan by Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/people/hujintao.shtml> in early 2001 have played important roles in pushing forward friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries in all fields. Shi also conveyed best regards of Chinese President Jiang Zemin to the king, and expressed appreciation for Jordan's adherence to the one-China policy. Abdullah II said that bilateral political ties are good, and bilateral ties in other areas have been developing quickly, adding that he is looking forward to meeting President Jiang next year. The king also asked Shi to convey his regards to President Jiang. Shi spoke highly of Jordan's remarkable achievements in economic development under the leadership of the king, praising Jordan's special role in international and regional affairs. Earlier in the day, Jordanian Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb also met with Shi and expressed congratulations on China's entry into the WTO. During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on ways of enhancing trade and economic relations within the WTO framework. Jordan joined the WTO in the third ministerial conference of the organization in Seattle, the U.S., two years ago. Shi also held talks with Jordanian Minister of Trade, Industry and Commerce Salah Bashir on ways of developing economic and trade relations. Following the talks, the two sides inked an agreement on the promotion and protection of mutual investment and a document, under which China will offer Jordan a grant of 5 million Chinese yuan (about 600,000 U.S. dollars). Shi arrived here on Wednesday for a three-day official visit after attending the fourth WTO ministerial meeting in Doha, Qatar. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
