Extracts. Chinese President Arrives in Mandalay. Visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin, arrived in Mandalay, the second largest city of Myanmar, Friday afternoon, continuing his state visit to the country. Visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin, arrived in Mandalay, the second largest city of Myanmar, Friday afternoon, continuing his state visit to the country. Jiang was accompanied by First Secretary of the State Peace and Development Council Khin Nyunt and Foreign Minister U Win Aung during the visit. Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council ( PDC) Ye Myint and Mandalay Mayor Yan Thein greeted Jiang at the Mandalay International Airport. This evening, Ye Myint hosted a dinner for Jiang. Before leaving Bagan which is famous for buddhist pagodas, Jiang visited the Bagan Archaeological Museum with excavated relics dating back to the 12th to 15th century, and two outstanding pagodas. Zaw Min, chairman of Magway Division PDC went to see Jiang off at the Bagan Nyaung Oo Airport. Zaw Min hosted a luncheon in Bagan Friday for Jiang and his entourage. **** Chinese Working Group Leaves for Afghanistan. A working group of the Chinese Foreign Ministry left here Friday afternoon for Afghanistan. A working group of the Chinese Foreign Ministry left here Friday afternoon for Afghanistan. Sources said that the working group will make a stopover in Islamabad, Pakistan, before it arrives in Kabul. The working group will be looking at the premises of the Chinese embassy to Afghanistan, and contact the officials of the Afghan interim government. **** US Deduction of Chinese Textile Quota Violates Bilateral Agreement: MOFTEC. The American government's unilateral quota deduction concerning textile imports from China seriously violates the Sino-U.S. bilateral textile agreement, a spokeswoman with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) said Friday in Beijing. The American government's unilateral quota deduction concerning textile imports from China seriously violates the Sino-U.S. bilateral textile agreement, a spokeswoman with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) said Friday in Beijing <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/beijing.html> . Gao Yan said that the US government "has yet provided no clear evidence" of the need to make the quota deduction, worth about 28 million U.S. dollars. The American government recently decided to cut quotas on Chinese textile imports, on the pretext that enterprises from the Chinese mainland illegally exported textile products via other places. Gao stressed that the Chinese government has consistently and conscientiously implemented the Sino-U.S. bilateral agreement, and advocated to develop bilateral trade relations on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, and to solve trade disputes with a practical and cooperative attitude. The Chinese government cannot accept the US action, which violates the bilateral textile agreement, and demands that the American government consider the overall Sino-U.S. trade relations and correct its decision so as to ensure the smooth development of bilateral textile trade, Gao said. **** Chinese Working Group Leaves for Afghanistan. A working group of the Chinese Foreign Ministry left here Friday afternoon for Afghanistan. Chinese Working Group Leaves for Afghanistan A working group of the Chinese Foreign Ministry left here Friday afternoon for Afghanistan. Sources said that the working group will make a stopover in Islamabad, Pakistan, before it arrives in Kabul. The working group will be looking at the premises of the Chinese embassy to Afghanistan, and contact the officials of the Afghan interim government. **** Annan Regrets at U.S. ABM Treaty Withdrawal. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan Friday said that he "has noted with regret" the U.S. decision to withdraw unilaterally from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile System (ABM) treaty. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan Friday said that he "has noted with regret" the U.S. decision to withdraw unilaterally from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile System (ABM) treaty. In a statement issued by his spokesman, Annan said that he is " concerned that the annulation of this treaty may provoke an arms race, especially in the missile area, and further undermine disarmament and nonproliferation regimes." **** Wei Jianxing Meets Chairman of Cambodian People's Party. Wei Jianxing, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met Friday in Phnom Penh with Chea Sim, chairman of the Cambodian People's Party and president of the Senate. The two sides exchanged views on the relationship between the two parties and two countries and other issues of common concern. Wei Jianxing, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met Friday in Phnom Penh with Chea Sim, chairman of the Cambodian People's Party and president of the Senate. The two sides exchanged views on the relationship between the two parties and two countries and other issues of common concern. Wei expressed thanks to the People's Party for inviting him to lead the CPC delegation to visit Cambodia, and conveyed to Chea Sim greetings and good wishes of CPC General Secretary Jiang Zemin and CPPCC Chairman Li Ruihuan. Wei said that the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) is one of Cambodia's major ruling parties, and it has made unswerving efforts for the independence, peace, reconstruction and development of Cambodia, and has played an active role in regional peace and stability. He said the Chinese side highly values the CPP's policy of paying top attention to national interest and cooperate with other parties to jointly contribute to economic construction and national development. He said that the CPC and the CPP are both ruling parties, consolidating exchanges and cooperation between the two parties will be beneficial for the two parties' self construction and the development of the two states. The Chinese side appreciates and is grateful for the CPP and the Cambodian government for their adherence to the "One China" policy and having no official relations of any kind with Taiwan. As a sincere friend of Cambodia, he said, China has always supported and will continue to support the CPP's policy of opening and reform, national reconciliation, protecting independence and sovereignty and focusing on economic development. The CPC is willing to consolidate cooperation with the CPP, jointly promote an all-round, multi-channel modern inter-party relationship in broad fields, so as to promote the development of state-to-state relations, he said. Chairman Chea Sim said that the friendly relationship between the CPP and the CPC is an important part of the relations between the two countries. The CPP, the Cambodian government and people are grateful to the CPC, the Chinese government and the Chinese people for their active support for the reconstruction and development cause of Cambodia, and highly evaluate China's policy of having mutually beneficial cooperation with ASEAN countries. He said that the Cambodian people, government and the Senate treasure very much the traditional friendship with China in various fields, and are happy from the heart for the great achievements scored by the Chinese people. The CPP and the Senate will continue to adhere to the "One China" policy, work together with the Funcinpec Party and other forces in Cambodia to maintain and develop friendly exchanges and cooperative relationship with the CPC and the CPPCC. Wei and his delegation arrived in Phnom Penh Thursday for an official friendly visit. **** Generator Installation Begins at Three Gorges Project. Installation of the first generator at the Three Gorges Power Project, one of the world's largest water-control projects, being built on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, began Tuesday. Installation of the first generator at the Three Gorges Power Project, one of the world's largest water-control projects, being built on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, began Tuesday. Sources at the Yangtze River Three Gorges Project Development Corporation said that installation of the generator, manufactured by Alstom of France and weighing 206 tons, would be done by the Gezhouba Group Company, China's largest hydroelectricity construction company. The generator is one of the 14 generators designed to be installed on the left (northern) bank of the Yangtze. All 14 generators will be supplied by Alstom and GE of Canada. Construction of the Three Gorges Project, located near this city in central China's Hubei Province, began in 1993, with an estimated investment of 50.09 billion yuan (about 6.04 billion U.S.dollars). The project is scheduled to be finished in 2009. The entire project consists of a 1,983-meter-long and 185-meter-high dam, and 26 generating units with a combined capacity of 18.2million kw and an annual output of 84.7 billion kwh. Its permanentlock can accommodate ships of 10,000 dwt. It is expected that the first group of generators will be able to generate electricity by 2003, according to the sources. **** WHO Urges Attention on Health Services in Afghanistan. The World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday in Geneva there is an urgent need for more health services in Herat, western Afghanistan. The World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday in Geneva there is an urgent need for more health services in Herat, western Afghanistan. A WHO official said only five clinics are serving about 300, 000 people there, with six others to open soon. He said acute respiratory infections, including pneumonia, are plaguing the people gathered in and around Herat. Tuberculosis is posing as a threat to the overcrowded Maslakh camp. The WHO will offer guidance on how to control this deadly disease in difficult conditions. The global health body is working with Afghans to start planning reconstruction of the health sector in Herat. Earlier this week, the WHO hosted a meeting of U.N. agencies, Afghan and international NGOs along with representatives from Afghan University. The official said they listed the priorities on agenda, which include continuing emergency assistance, training health workers, a baseline health and population survey, and empowerment of female workers. They invited the international community to assist with the reconstruction of the health sector, without imposing rules and models. According to the WHO, the next such meeting is scheduled for December 26 in Kabul, following the takeover of the Interim Administration in Afghanistan and Dr. Suhaila Seddiqi's induction as health minister. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
