Extracts.
Jordanian King Meets Chinese FM Over Ties, Mideast Situation. Jordanian King Abdullah Bin Hussein on Monday met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan over further promoting bilateral ties and the latest development in the Middle East. Jordanian King Abdullah Bin Hussein on Monday met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan over further promoting bilateral ties and the latest development in the Middle East. During the meeting, Tang said China and Jordan had conducted effective and fruitful cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields and had been supporting and coordinating with each other on international issues since they established diplomatic ties over two decades ago. Tang said he believed the Sino-Jordanian friendly and cooperative ties would further develop in the new century under the personal care and guidance of leaders from both countries as King Abdullah will China in early 2002 at the invitation of Chinese President Jiang Zemin, according to Sun Yuxi, spokesman for Tang's delegation. For his part, King Abdullah said the exchange of visits by leaders of the two countries will steadily boost the development of the bilateral friendly and cooperative ties, particularly in trade and economic fields for the benefits of the two peoples. The Jordanian side also reiterated that the kingdom attached great importance to developing ties with China, and would adhere to the "one China" policy and will refrain from developing official ties with Taiwan, according to Sun. The meeting was also attended by Jordanian Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb and Foreign Minister Abdel Ilah al-Khatib. Tang and his hosts also reached a common consensus on the Mideast situation and the Iraqi issue, Sun said. Tang said China appreciated Jordan's efforts to promote the Mideast peace process and understood its special concern over its neighbor Iraq. He said China believed Iraq should comply with relevant U.N. resolutions and resume its cooperation with the U.N., meanwhile, Iraq's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence should be respected. The Chinese foreign minister also stressed the U.N. should review objectively Iraq's implementation of relevant resolutions and accordingly lift its sanctions imposed on the country 11 years ago for its invasion of Kuwait to end the sufferings of the Iraqi people. King Abdullah and other Jordanian leaders fully agree with China's position on the Mideast peace process and the Iraqi issue, and expressed hope that China would play a bigger role in the region, Sun Yuxi said. Both China and Jordan stand for a just, durable and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. Tang arrived here earlier in the day for a two-day official visit as part of his week-long four-nation tour, which has taken him to Lebanon and Syria. He will travel on to Egypt on Tuesday. **** Cross-Strait Relationship Pointing to Reunification in 2001. A signed article, to be out on first issue 2002 of "Cross-Strait Relations" magazine by ARATS, tells that the Chinese mainland and Taiwan Province will be reunified by concerted national efforts being made. China reiterate that nobody could change the foregone conclusion that the "One China" principle has been widely accepted by international community. Positive effect on cross-strait relationship A signed article, to be out on first issue 2002 of "Cross-Strait Relations" magazine by the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), tells that the Chinese mainland and Taiwan Province will be reunified by concerted national efforts being made. The article reads fast economic growth on the Chinese mainland in 2001 has exerted strong impacts on the pace of cross-Straits reunification. Two outstanding features are as seen in the economic interchanges between the two sides this year. First, under the pressure of Taiwanese and Taiwan industrial and commercial circles, the Taiwan authorities has to shift from a policy of "be patient, no haste" to one of "active opening and efficient management" and direct opening of transportation and communications between the two sides. Second, the two sides' entry into the WTO has generated a positive effect on their relationship. One China principle undoubted The article points out that the "One China" principle as a stable pattern has been widely accepted by the whole international community. "One China, One Taiwan" plotted by the Taiwan authorities will lead nowhere though the dispute between the two sides concerning whether or not to accept the "One China" principle may remain unsolved still. The Taiwan side may hang on its separatist stand, refusing to accept the "One China" principle and denying "1992 common consensus". The article finally emphasizes the determination as shown by the "One China" policy to defend China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. China will continue encouraging economic, cultural and talents' interchanges, but nobody could change the foregone conclusion that the "One China" principle has been widely accepted by international community. The article says that that national reunification by the two sides will be realized beyond doubt at an early date as national efforts are being made by the whole Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. **** Libyan Leader Ghaddafi Meets Senior CPC Official. Head of State of Libya Omar Muammar al-Ghaddafi met Sunday with Wei Jianxing and the two exchanged views on bilateral relations and international issues of common concern. Wei conveyed to Ghaddafi greetings and good wishes of CPC General Secretary and President of China Jiang Zemin, and expressed thanks for the significant contributions the Libyan leader has made in developing Sino-Libyan friendly relations and promoting cooperation between China and African countries. Libyan Leader Ghaddafi Meets Senior CPC Official Head of State of Libya Omar Muammar al-Ghaddafi met Sunday with Wei Jianxing, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. During the meeting, the two exchanged views on bilateral relations and international issues of common concern. Wei conveyed to Ghaddafi greetings and good wishes of CPC General Secretary and President of China Jiang Zemin, and expressed thanks for the significant contributions the Libyan leader has made in developing Sino-Libyan friendly relations and promoting cooperation between China and African countries. Wei said that over the past 32 years since its revolution, Libya has made great achievements in protecting national independence and sovereignty, developing national economy and other aspects. As an important country in Africa and the Arab world, Libya plays an important role in regional and international affairs, and has made active contribution to establishing the African Union and reinforcing the solidarity of African countries, the Chinese official said. He added that since China and Libya set up diplomatic relations 23 years ago, the friendly cooperation of the two countries on the basis of mutual belief, equality and mutual benefit has had all- round development. China is willing to consolidate and develop bilateral cooperation in political, economic, cultural and other fields, reinforce bilateral negotiation and coordination in regional and international affairs. On the international situation, Wei said that in the new century, China is willing to work together with the international community, including Libya, to make concerted efforts in securing world peace and stability, and promoting the establishment of a just and rational new order of international politics and economy. For his part, Ghaddafi expressed welcome to Wei Jianxing and his accompanying delegation, asking Wei to convey his warm greetings to Jiang Zemin and other leaders of the CPC and the Chinese government. Ghaddafi said that both Libya and China are third world countries, and the two peoples have always supported each other and set up deep-set traditional friendship in the process of fighting against imperialism and hegemonism and seeking to establish a fair and rational new order for international politics and economy. He said that Libya appreciates China's adherence to the socialist road with Chinese characteristics, and congratulates the Chinese people on their great achievements in building their own country. The Libyan people are proud to have China as their friend and expect China to play an even greater role in international affairs, he added. Ghaddafi also said that the world is experiencing dramatic changes. Developing countries including Libya and China are facing common tasks of protecting national security and sovereignty, seeking economic developing and social progress, and fighting against hegemonism. They should further reinforce mutual friendly exchanges and cooperation. The mutually beneficial cooperation between Libya and other African countries and China is quite prospective, the Libyan leader noted. **** Bangladeshi PM Hopes to Promote Military Cooperation with China. Prime Minister of Bangladesh Khaleda Zia Monday expressed the hope that the existing good relation and cooperation between the Armed Forces of Bangladesh and China will be strengthened further in the years to come. Prime Minister of Bangladesh Khaleda Zia Monday expressed the hope that the existing good relation and cooperation between the Armed Forces of Bangladesh and China will be strengthened further in the years to come. Khaleda Zia, also defence minister of the country, made the remarks when the visiting 6-member Chinese military delegation headed by Deputy Chief of General Staff of the People's Liberation Army of China Lieutenant General Zhang Li called on her at her residence here. The prime minister said that Bangladesh and China, two friendly countries, have very good cooperation in the fields of politics, economics and culture. Through the high-level exchange of visits, she said, cooperation between the two Armed Forces will also be strengthened further. General Zhang Li said that Chinese People's Liberation Army will continue its military cooperation with Bangladesh and will make effort to promote its good relations with Bangladeshi Armed Forces to a new stage in the new century. The Chinese military delegation arrived here on Saturday. **** Chirac, Putin on Mideast, Russian-EU Ties, ABM, Afghanistan. Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday called his French President Jacques Chirac and the two had a telephone discussion over issues of the Middle East, the Anti- Ballistic Missile treaty (ABM), Afghanistan and Russian-European relations, according to the French presidential palace. Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday called his French President Jacques Chirac and the two had a telephone discussion over issues of the Middle East, the Anti- Ballistic Missile treaty (ABM), Afghanistan and Russian-European relations, according to the French presidential palace. Putin and Chirac shared preoccupation on the situation in the Middle East and called on all sides to make more efforts in curbing the escalation of violence and getting back to peaceful solution, said the French presidential palace Elysee in a statement. Putin told Chirac that there exists a "proximity" between positions of Russia and France, notably over issues of ABM, the Middle East and Russian-NATO relations and Russian-EU ties, said Elysee. Putin told Chirac "his appreciation for the initiative launched by France at the Laeken European Council summit in mid- December about reinforcing the relations between the European Union and Russia," said Elysee. The two presidents agreed that the orientations defined in Laeken would give a new momentum for the partnership between the EU and Russia. They underlined "the necessity to give more concrete contents to relations between the two entities, particularly in dialogue over political and security issues and in cooperation in fields such as interior security, especially in fighting organized crime, drug-trafficking, money-laundering and illegal migration," said Elysee in the statement. Putin and Chirac also agreed on the necessity to maintain a global binding system and to pursue with efforts in anti- proliferation of weapons of mass destruction following Washington' s unilateral withdrawal from the ABM treaty. On Afghanistan, the two presidents welcomed the establishment of the new government in Kabul and wished that it will succeed in coping with the difficult task of bringing the country to peace, stability and reconstruction, said Elysee. **** India and Pakistan Exchange Fresh Border Fire. India and Pakistan exchanged mortar and small arms fire across their disputed border in Kashmir Tuesday and Indian officials said hundreds of frightened civilians had started leaving their homes in the area. India and Pakistan exchanged mortar and small arms fire across their disputed border in Kashmir Tuesday and Indian officials said hundreds of frightened civilians had started leaving their homes in the area. There were no reports of casualties in the latest exchanges that ran through the night and were the latest sign of tension between the nuclear rivals following a December 13 suicide attack on India's parliament. India, which blames the suicide attack on Pakistan-based Kashmiri separatist groups, has recalled its ambassador to Islamabad and Monday ordered the expulsion of a Pakistani diplomat. "Firing is continuing in Samba and Hiranagar sectors of Jammu region but we don't have any report of casualties," an Indian defense official told Reuters. A senior Pakistani army officer said earlier the situation was "highly explosive" and continued border clashes could spark an uncontrollable flare-up involving nuclear weapons. The two hostile neighbors have reinforced positions on either side of their border in Kashmir, India's only Muslim majority state, since the December 13 suicide attack which killed 14 people. India says three border guards have been killed and half a dozen people injured on its side of the border in a week of cross-border exchanges. Pakistan says two civilians have been killed and four wounded on its side. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
