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Cambodian Prime Minister Meets Wei Jianxing. Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen met Thursday in Phnom Penh with Wei Jianxing, standing committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China ( CPC) Central Committee. Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen met Thursday in Phnom Penh with Wei Jianxing , standing committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China ( CPC) Central Committee. Wei, also member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, conveyed greetings of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji to Hun Sen. He spoke highly of the outstanding achievements made by the Cambodian people under the leadership of King Norodom Sihanouk and the Cambodian government headed by Prime Minister Hun Sen. Hun Sen expressed warm welcome to the CPC delegation headed by Wei Jianxing. He said that the Cambodian government and people highly appreciate the great results the Chinese people have achieved in the opening and reform drive and modernization construction under the leadership of the CPC. He said that in recent years the Chinese economy has had rapid development, especially worth noting is that the Chinese government has pursued the policy of maintaining a stable exchange rate of Renminbi after the Asian financial crisis in 1997, which made great contributions to stabilizing the economic situations in the Asian Pacific Region and promoting regional peace, progress and development. He congratulated China for its entry into the World Trade Organization, expressing the belief that as a member of the WTO, China will play an active role in both the global economic field and international affairs as a whole. When talking about Sino-Cambodian relations, Wei Jianxing said that China and Cambodia are close neighbors with deep-set traditional friendship, and are also models of mutual support and sincere cooperation. China pays great attention to Sino-Cambodian traditional friendship, appreciates and thanks Cambodia for its adherence to the "One China" policy, and respects the social system chosen by the Cambodian people themselves and the development model that is suited to the conditions of Cambodia. He said that China is willing to work together with the Cambodian side to actively promote Sino-Cambodian good-neighborly cooperative relationship, which is of strategic importance, and sincerely carry out the Joint Declaration on mutual cooperation signed by the two sides when President Jiang Zemin visited Cambodia, actively develop new ways for economic and trade cooperation, and further deepen mutual understanding and belief, so as to be good neighbors, good friends and good partners forever. Wei also briefed the prime minister on China's domestic conditions and views on international situation. Hun Sen said that great progress has been made between the two countries and the ruling parties in recent years. The two countries have broad common views on not only bilateral relations, but also on regional and international affairs. The Cambodian government and people are thankful to the Chinese government and people for their support and aid of all kinds over the past many years. He said in the new century the Cambodian side will continue to adhere to the "One China" policy and is willing to work together with the Chinese side to make even greater efforts to develop the traditional friendly cooperative relationship between the two countries. Wei and his delegation arrived here Thursday afternoon for an official friendly visit at the invitation of the Cambodian People' s Party and Funcinpec Party. He also met with senior officials of the two parties Thursday. **** Sweden Opposes US Pullout From ABM Treaty. Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Anna Lindh issued a statement here Thursday to express opposition to the unilateral U.S. withdrawal from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty. Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Anna Lindh issued a statement here Thursday to express opposition to the unilateral U.S. withdrawal from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty. Lindh said the U.S. plan to quit the ABM treaty would bring "serious consequences" to international disarmament in the future. Sweden had repeatedly noted that unilateral move to implement a missile defense plan would very likely trigger a "new round of arms expansion" and pose "negative impact" on the efforts of disarmament and anti-proliferation, she said. In the statement, the top Swedish diplomat welcomed the discussions the Bush administration has started with other countries, saying talks with Russia and China were "of great importance." She said her country hoped such dialogues would continue and a solution conducive to disarmament and non-proliferation would be found. U.S. President George W. Bush has informed Congress leaders of his decision to pull out of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty. A U.S. withdrawal from the treaty would give the Pentagon the green light for an expanded plan of missile defense testing. **** U.S. Congress Passes Multi-Billion-Dollar Defense Bill. The U.S. Congress on Thursday gave final approval to a 343-billion-U.S.-dollar defense authorization bill that includes a broad military pay rise and full fund for a national missile defense system. The U.S. Congress on Thursday gave final approval to a 343-billion-U.S.-dollar defense authorization bill that includes a broad military pay rise and full fund for a national missile defense system. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 96-2, hours after a vote of 382-40 in the House of Representatives. The measure then went to President George W. Bush for his signature. The bill provides funds for defense spending by the Defense Department and military efforts of the Energy Department for the 2002 budget year that began on October 1. It marks a 33-billion- dollar increase, or 10.6 percent, over the 2001 spending. In addition to funds for weapons purchase, the bill includes an across-the-board 5 percent pay rise for the armed forces, the largest military pay hike in 20 years. It gave Bush the full fund of 8.3 billion dollars as request for the building of a national missile defense system, and included another 7 billion dollars for anti-terrorism efforts. The measure, which had been stalled for months by resistance in the House to a Pentagon plan for a new round base closing in 2003, was approved after negotiators from the House and the Senate reached a compromise over the issue. The Senate voted narrowly in September to support Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's request for the base closures. But the House had rejected the plan, saying the closure would cost jobs and hurt local economies. A compromise was reached earlier this week after the Senate agreed to push back the process by two years from the original target date of 2003. Under the proposal, a nine-member commission appointed by Bush would review the Pentagon's list of bases to be closed. The president and Congress would have to approve or reject the entire list. Defense officials said up to 25 percent of bases in the United States could be closed, saving 3 billion dollars a year. Four previous closing rounds -- in 1988, 1991, 1993 and 1995 -- led to closure or realignment of 451 installations. **** 80,000 Hold Demonstration Ahead of EU Leaders Summit. Some 80,000 people marched through the Belgian capital Thursday, demanding the European Union give labor unions a larger role in shaping social policy and do more to cut unemployment. Some 80,000 people marched through the Belgian capital Thursday, demanding the European Union give labor unions a larger role in shaping social policy and do more to cut unemployment. The march came on the eve of a two-day summit of EU leaders that is expected to draw anti-globalization activists from across Europe for three other planned demonstrations. Police have stepped up security, fearing a repeat of the violent protests that have accompanied gatherings in recent years. However, Thursday's march was peaceful. The group, which represents 60 million European workers from 25 countries, demands quality public services, more workers rights, improved safety conditions at the workplace and an EU commitment to tone down "today's unbridled globalization." Unions and other groups presented Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, who is hosting the summit, with a declaration setting out their demands. A separate declaration was handed over by a group of 45 activist organizations calling on EU leaders to "send a strong signal" that the EU "is firmly committed to the eradication of poverty." Wary of a repeat of violent summit protests in recent years, Brussels police are taking tough security measures and deploying 3,000 police officers for the summit. Police helicopters and water cannons were deployed alongside riot police and horse patrols on the streets, officials said. Belgian air force F-16 fighters were also to be placed on alert as the threat of a possible terrorist attack looms large after the events of Sept. 11. **** Belarus: U.S. Withdrawal From ABM Treaty to Destroy World Stability. The U.S. withdrawal from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty may destroy the balance of international stability and security, Belarussian Foreign Minister Mikhail Khvostov told the press in Minsk on Thursday. The U.S. withdrawal from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty may destroy the balance of international stability and security, Belarussian Foreign Minister Mikhail Khvostov told the press in Minsk on Thursday. The question of withdrawal from the ABM Treaty "is a question of confidence in nuclear powers that may be undermined," Interfax quoted the minister as saying. Nuclear powers, the members of the United Nations Security Council, are the guarantors of international security to a large degree, he stressed. The statement of the United States <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/usa.html> should not be regarded as the final act, Khvostov said. "Russia and the United States are holding negotiations and NATO will consider the issue as well," he said. U.S. President George W. Bush announced earlier Thursday that he has informed Russia of his decision to pull out of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty, which bans the deployment of a national missile defense system. In a news briefing at the White House, Bush said it's time to move beyond the nearly three-decade-old disarmament pact with Russia. Under the pact, the withdrawal will be effective in six months. Bush said the withdrawal will not harm the relations between Washington and Moscow. **** Iran Calls for Holding Massive Rally to Support Palestinians. The Iranian government has called for holding a massive rally on Friday to mark this year's world Qods (Jerusalem) day, so as to offer the Iranians' support for the Palestinian struggle against the Israeli aggressions, the official IRNA news agency reported Thursday. The Iranian government has called for holding a massive rally on Friday to mark this year's world Qods (Jerusalem) day, so as to offer the Iranians' support for the Palestinian struggle against the Israeli aggressions, the official IRNA news agency reported Thursday. On Wednesday, the cabinet called on the Iranian people to have massive turnout in the Qods day rally to "help reinvigorate the Palestinians' resistance against the Israeli atrocities." The call was echoed by foreign and defense ministries and other state departments. On the same day, about 200 members of the parliament (MPs) also issued a statement, saying that "We, the MPs will take part in the Qods day rally and call on the nation to do so to voice their support for the oppressed Palestinian nation on Friday." In addition, various organizations and communities have issued statements in the past few days to express their support for high public turnout in the rally. In 1979, late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Musavi Khomeini designated the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan as the world Qods day and called on Muslims worldwide to stage rallies to voice support for the liberation of holy Qods from Israeli occupation forces. "This year, the world Qods day is being observed one year after the start of the al-Aqsa intifada (uprising against the Israeli occupation) on September 28, 2000, during which the Palestinian nation has been subject to the utmost brutality of the Zionist regime," the IRNA quoted a statement as saying. More than 1,000 people, mostly Palestinians, have been killed since the outbreak of the Palestinian-Israeli violence in late September last year. The situation in the occupied Palestinian territories has worsened in the past week as the Israeli army launched several rounds of air strikes on Palestinian targets to avenge a wave of Palestinian suicide bombing attacks. Iran, which does not recognize Israel, firmly supports the Palestinians' struggle for regaining their legitimate rights. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
