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Jiang Zemin Meets Mongolian Prime Minister. Chinese President Jiang Zemin said Tuesday that China hopes Mongolia will keep making achievements in construction and development. Jiang believed that the prime minister's current visit will promote Sino-Mongolian friendly cooperation in all fields. Sino-Mongolia <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/mongolia.html> n relation to be further deepened In a meeting with Mongolian Prime Minister Nambaryn Enkhbayar, Jiang said that he and Mongolian President Nachagyn Bagabandy reached an important consensus on the orientation for the development of Sino-Mongolian friendly relationship in 1999 when he made a state visit to Mongolia. This time the Mongolian prime minister and the Chinese premier held fruitful talks Monday on deepening mutually beneficial cooperation in the new century. Enkhbayar conveyed greetings from Mongolian President Bagabandy to Jiang. He said that China is an important neighbor to Mongolia, and developing long-term and stable friendly cooperation with China is one of the priorities of the Mongolian foreign policy. He said that the Sino-Mongolian treaty on friendly cooperation signed in 1994 set a legal basis for developing bilateral friendly relations of cooperation, and the exchange of visits between the heads of states made clear the direction of bilateral relationship in the new century. He said that his talks with Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Monday went very well and mutual understanding and mutual trust had been constantly reinforced. Both governments have much to do and Mongolia is willing to work with China to put the positive achievements of this visit into practice so as to push forward the two countries' friendly cooperation, he said. Both sides oppose terrorism Jiang said that the current world international situation is on the whole peaceful and stable, but with local wars, tension and turbulences. "Taking a panoramic view of the development and changes in the international situation, we're still full of confidence in the world," Jiang said. Since the September 11 incident in the United States, Jiang said terrorism has become a public scourge in the world, and people of various countries are co-operating in fighting terrorism. China has always been opposed to terrorism in any form and supports the United Nations' important role on this issue. Jiang said that terrorists are few in number and strikes on terrorism should avoid hurting the innocent. Jiang said that China is happy to see the establishment of an interim government in Afghanistan, and expects it to fully represent the interests of all nationalities in Afghanistan and to ensure peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan. He said that Mongolia is firmly opposed to terrorism, and at the same time believes that attention should be paid to dealing with the root causes of terrorism. The prime minister spoke highly of China's important contributions to world peace and stability. Mongolia expects China to play an even greater role in the international arena, he said. **** Premier Zhu's Visit to Bangladesh, India Aims to Advocate Peace: FM Spokesman. Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji will pay an official visit to the People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Republic of India from January 11 to 18 at the invitation of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said Tuesday at a regular briefing. Bangladesh FM: Chinese Premier's Visit to Boost Relations Bangladesh Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan Tuesday said the existing relations of Bangladesh with China will get a new boost during Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's upcoming visit to his country. "We are looking forward eagerly for the visit of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji. The present relation of the two countries is very friendly. People of Bangladesh believe the existing relation with China will reach a new height during Zhu Rongji's visit," the foreign minister told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on the eve of Zhu Rongji's three-day visit to Bangladesh. Bangladesh places great importance to Zhu's visit Premier Zhu Rongji is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on a three-day official visit to Bangladesh on January 11 at the invitation of Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Zhu's trip will be the first official visit by a head of government to Bangladesh since four-party alliance government of the country took office on October 10 last year and the second visit by a Chinese premier to Bangladesh after 1989. "Naturally, Bangladesh places great importance to this visit, particularly in view of the fact that Bangladesh and China have a very friendly relations," Khan said. The foreign minister said the exchange of visits at the highest level suggest the level of relations that exist between the two Asian nations. New cooperation hoped Khan hoped that the official talks between Khaleda Zia and Zhu Rongji would identify new areas of cooperation and further strengthen the existing areas of cooperation. "We expect to work together in all matters of mutual interest in a more concrete manner and in a very positive way in future. We believe that the special relations that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party has with the people in China contributes to building stronger relations between our two friendly countries." Bangladesh FM praised China's role in world peace-keeping The Bangladesh foreign minister held that China has always been very pragmatic in its policies towards maintaining peace and stability in the world. "It has played its due role as a permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations and as a member of the UN bodies in trying to ensure that this world is a safer and more peaceful place to live in," Khan said, adding that " China has maintained a balanced approach towards the tensions in South Asia. Like Bangladesh, it has rightly urged both Pakistan and India to use maximum restraint in their relations with each other. Bangladesh expects benefits from China's WTO entry Commenting on China's entry into the global trading body the World Trade Organization (WTO), Morshed Khan said it would have a "huge impact" on globalization of trade. "We expect China to play a very constructive role within the WTO so that the interest of developing countries, especially the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) is protected," Khan said. He also hoped that China, like many other WTO members would provide special tariff and zero-tariff facilities to Bangladesh as a LDC. Zhu to Persuade India and Pakistan to Achieve Peace Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji will do his best to persuade India and Pakistan to achieve peace through dialogue and consultation during his forthcoming visit to India, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday. Tension between India and Pakistan has been mounting since a deadly December 13 attack on the New Delhi parliament, which India blames on Islamic militant groups with links to Pakistan. The two South Asian countries have been building up forces along their common border and exchanging fire in the hotly disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. China is deeply worried about the clashes between India and Pakistan, and as a neighbor and friend of the two countries, China is most concerned about the development of the situation there. China hopes that both parties will exercise restraint to avoid the escalation of their already tense relations, and that they will solve problems through dialogue and consultation and safeguard regional peace and stability, he said. **** China's Military Economy Grows Fast. China's military economy kept a fast growth in 2001 and a 19, 17 and 14 percent increase is expected for increased gross output and added value and revenue from sales. The science, technology and industry sectors for national defense are required to highlight the work of four aspects in the new year. Fast growth in military economy China's military economy kept a fast growth in 2001 and a 19, 17 and 14 percent increase is expected for increased gross output and added value and revenue from sales, said Liu Jibin, supervisor of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (CSTIND). Liu made the remark when giving a report at the 2002 working conference by CSTIND. He said China's military products for civil use have already taken on a new look and an 11 percent increase recorded in income from sales of products. He noted that China's military economy develops fast and its innovative and sustainable ability has improved a lot. Military research on model study and pre-research has made many technological breakthroughs. Four key aspects He demanded the science, technology and industry sectors for national defense pay more attention to the work of the following four aspects: First, push forward the technological innovation and improve the capability of self-development. The sectors concerned are required to ensure the launch of the projects on nuclear development, civil space technology, civil airplane technology and the advanced technology of ships and boats while making breakthroughs in the key technology of weapon equipment. Second, take WTO accession as a turning point to further open up and widen and deepen the opening up of the science, technology and industry sectors for national defense. Third, strive for an integrated development and use of military and civilian-use technologies; make sure second-phase Taishan Nuclear Plant and Lingao Nuclear Plant's Unit 1 to be put into operation on schedule, meteorological, ocean and resource satellites successfully launched and industrialization of civil airplanes to develop at an accelerated pace. Fourth, improve the overall quality of the said sectors by active innovation in management. Highlight the management and managerial reform and strive to make marked improvement. **** Sino-US Ties Critical to World Peace, Stability and Prosperity: Jiang. The Chinese President Jiang Zemin said Tuesday the Sino-U.S. relationship is critical to regional and global peace, stability and prosperity, and the two countries, with common responsibilities and interests in many areas, should increase exchanges and cooperation. Sino-US Ties Critical to World Peace, Stability and Prosperity: Jiang The Chinese President Jiang Zemin said Tuesday the Sino-U.S. relationship is critical to regional and global peace, stability and prosperity, and the two countries, with common responsibilities and interests in many areas, should increase exchanges and cooperation. Jiang made the remarks at a meeting with a U.S. delegation headed by Donald A. Manzullo, a representative to the U.S. Congress. Jiang said Sino-U.S. relations on the whole have progressed despite many ups and downs. Bilateral exchanges and cooperation inwide ranging fields have not only benefited the people of both countries, but have also contributed significantly to peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large. Jiang said Manzullo and his colleagues are the first U.S. friends he has met since the beginning of this year, and expressedthe hope that they could see more in China and put forward their valuable suggestions on promoting Sino-U.S. relations. Manzullo said that his visit aims to deepen understanding aboutChina and to promote cooperation between the two countries. He said he appreciates the great efforts China has made before and after its entry into the World Trade Organization, and believes that the development of trade relations between the two countries will be more satisfactory within the framework of the WTO. **** Somali President Rules Out US Strike on His Country. The president of Somalia's transitional government on Tuesday ruled out any US strike on his country, which he said no longer harbours terrorist organisations, Al-Zaman daily reported in its Wednesday issue. The president of Somalia's transitional government on Tuesday ruled out any US strike on his country, which he said no longer harbours terrorist organisations, Al-Zaman daily reported in its Wednesday issue. "We have succeeded in opening a direct dialogue with the Americans and we do not think the United States will carry out any kind of strike against Somalia," Abdulkassim Salat Hassan told the London-based daily. "Somalia no longer harbours camps of (chief terror suspect Osama bin Laden's) al-Qaeda network. Somalia is in the anti-terrorist camp," Hassan added. Somalia's Prime Minister Hassan Abshir Farah said Sunday that "bin Laden can't come to Somalia and get safe haven." "We have trained 26,000 police. We can find and arrest anyone they tell us to," he said, referring to the United States. US officials have often expressed concern that Somalia, which has not had a strong central government since the fall of president Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991, is home to individuals or groups linked to the al-Qaeda network. General Tommy Franks, commander of US military operations in Afghanistan said last week that the United States was keeping Somalia under observation. **** Yugoslav President Kostunica Arrives in China for Official Visit. President Jiang Zemin held a welcoming ceremony for Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday. Kostunica arrived here for a three-day official visit expected to focus on the future of China-Yugoslav relations and expanding bilateral trade. Yugoslav President Kostunica Arrives in China for Official Visit Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica arrived in China on Wednesday for a three-day official visit expected to focus on the future of China-Yugoslav relations and expanding bilateral trade. Kostunica is due to hold talks with Chinese leaders, including President Jiang Zemin. He is travelling with Yugoslavia's Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus and Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic as well as a group of some 40 Yugoslav businessmen. The two countries are eager to boost their economic and political ties during Kostunica's visit. Along with Russia, China was Belgrade's main trading partner of Yugoslavia. The trip will include talks on how Belgrade should repay loans from China, including a 320-million-dollar (360-million-euro) loan for crude oil delivered since 1996, and a 100-million-dollar loan to the Yugoslav central bank, both approved during the Milosevic administration when Yugoslavia was facing international sanctions. The trip is Kostunica's first to China as leader of his country. **** U.S. to Stop 'Chasing Shadows' of Bin Laden. U.S. forces in Afghanistan now have less interest in finding Osama bin Laden and other individuals than in destroying remaining pockets of Taliban and al-Qaeda resistance, Pentagon officials say. U.S. forces in Afghanistan now have less interest in finding Osama bin Laden and other individuals than in destroying remaining pockets of Taliban and al-Qaeda resistance, Pentagon officials say. Recent U.S. airstrikes have hit areas where members of the al-Qaeda terror network have been trying to regroup or have cached weapons and ammunition. "We're going to stop chasing the shadows of where we thought (bin Laden) was and focus more on the entire picture of the country," Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Stufflebeem said at a Pentagon news briefing Monday. In recent days, American warplanes have struck repeatedly in areas around Khost in eastern Afghanistan's Paktia province. U.S. special forces teams are on the ground in that area, where a Green Beret soldier was killed in an ambush Friday. "We're not done there," Stufflebeem said of the compound and cave complex. "We're finding stuff, and we're attacking that stuff." Although the terrorist supporters in the region had been "widely dispersed" after weeks of fighting inside Afghanistan, they are now attempting to regroup and find security in numbers. That makes the region "a more dangerous area than the others right now," Stufflebeem said. Pentagon spokeswoman Victoria Clarke said American aircraft flew 118 sorties and conducted four airstrikes Sunday, one on the base at Zawar and three others in the Khost area. The strikes were conducted by long-range B-52 and B-1 bombers, as well as carrier-based strike planes from warships in the Indian Ocean. U.S. forces were holding 346 suspected Taliban or al-Qaeda members by Monday morning, Clarke said. Many could be among hundreds taken to reinforced former refugee campsites at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
