Extracts.
Wednesday, December 27, 2000, updated at 09:33(GMT+8)
Jiang on Anti-corruption Campaign
------------------------------------------------------
Jiang Zemin, general secretary of the Communist Party
of China (CPC) Central Committee, Tuesday called on
governments at all levels to continue to fight
against corruption with a firm hand in the new era to
safeguard the achievements of reform and development.
Jiang, also Chinese president and chairman of the
Central Military Commission, made the remarks while
addressing the CPC Central Commission for Discipline
Inspection's fifth plenary session.
Wei Jianxing, member of the Standing Committee of the
Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and
secretary of the CPC Central Commission for
Discipline Inspection, presided over the session.
The session was also attended by other senior Chinese
Party leaders Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, Li Ruihuan, Hu
Jintao and Li Lanqing.
Jiang reviewed the country's efforts to fight
corruption during the past years, saying that
important experience has been obtained. He urged all
Party members to bear the awareness of the importance
of the anti-corruption campaign and persevere to
carry through the drive.
He also noted that the endeavor to fight corruption
and build a clean government is a long-lasting and
arduous task, which should be carried out in the
whole process of reform and opening up.
He stressed that three major jobs in the drive should
be done well, namely, educating officials of
self-discipline, investigating major cases and
correcting the malpractice in various departments and
sectors. Problems which the masses complain about the
most should be dealt with in time, Jiang reiterated.
Jiang also reviewed the nearly 80 years of the CPC's
history. In the first 28 years, the Party led the
people to fight for the founding of New China. In the
latest more than 50 years, the CPC has played the
role of a ruling party, leading the people for
socialist construction.
Jiang emphasized that the shift of the position and
responsibility of the Party and those of Party
members have brought up a new task for Party
building.
Jiang warned that it is more difficult for the party
in power to improve Party building and management,
and this has been proved by both history and
experience.
He urged Party members to guard against the negative
effect of the shift in position and always adhere to
the Party's tenet to maintain the Party's vigor.
Jiang noted that the prominent problem for a party in
power is how to ensure that Party members and
officials have a correct understanding of interests.
He said that a qualified Party member should serve
the people heart and soul, and never act against the
will and benefit of the masses.
The Party's anti-corruption drive represents the will
of the broad masses. Party committees at all levels
should actively seek effective ways and methods to
supervise officials and educate them in an effort to
prevent the occurrence of corruption from the source,
he said.
Jiang also called for more stringent enforcement of
laws and regulations, pointing out that
anti-corruption should be considered during the
promulgation of major reform policies, laws and
regulations, and the socialist democratic political
system and legal system should be strengthened.
****
Tuesday, December 26, 2000, updated at 20:30(GMT+8)
Chinese FM Spokeswoman on Humanitarian Situation in
Iraq
China hopes the sanctions on Iraq will be lifted at
an early date, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
Zhang Qiyue at a regular press conference Tuesday,
December 26.
In response to a relevant question, Zhang said that
after a long period of sanctions, the Iraqi people
have suffered a lot and the humanitarian situation
there is serious.
She said that relevant resolutions passed by the
United Nations concerning the Iraqi issue need to be
implemented, while Iraq's independence, sovereignty
and territorial integrity should also be respected.
The international community should justly evaluate
Iraq's implementation of relevant U.N. resolutions,
Zhang said.
According to Zhang, the major purpose of the visit to
Iraq by Chinese State Councilor Ismail Amat is to
investigate the humanitarian situation in Iraq and to
convey the deep sympathy of the Chinese people to the
Iraqi people for their sufferings under the
sanctions.
China, as a permanent member of the UN Security
Council, has made unremitting efforts to break the
impasse of the Iraq problem and will continue to do
so for an early settlement of the problem, the
spokeswoman said.
****
Jiang on Development of Sino-Vietnamese Relations in New Century
Chinese, Vietnamese Presidents Hold Talks
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
President Jiang Zemin, in a meeting with Vietnamese President Tran Duc
Luong Monday, December 25, stressed four points for the development of the
Sino-Vietnamese relations in the new century.
First, China will continue to develop state-to-state relationship with
Vietnam on the basis of the five principles of peaceful co-existence, Jiang
said.
The two parties' friendly relations of cooperation should continue to be
developed in accordance with the principles of independence, complete
equality, mutual respect and non- interference in each other's internal
affairs, he said.
Secondly, Jiang said, the two countries should maintain high-level contact
as well as contact at other levels and strengthen cooperation in regional
and multi-lateral international affairs.
President Jiang Welcomes Vietnamese Counterpart
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thirdly, he said, greater prominence should be given to the two countries'
cooperation in the economic and trade and other fields.
Fourthly, Jiang said, China and Vietnam have successfully resolved problems
related to land boundary, demarcation in the Beibu Bay and its related
fishing issue, laying the foundation that will enable the two countries to
share a border of peace, friendship and long-term stability in the new
century.
However, Jiang said, in order to maintain true stability in the border
areas, both sides should honor their political commitments and earnestly
carry out agreements that have been reached and appropriately solve
potential problems of various kinds in order to safeguard the two
countries' relations.
Five Documents Signed
President Jiang Zemin and President Luong witnessed the signing ceremony of
five cooperative documents after they held talks at the Great Hall of the
People.
The two countries officially signed a joint statement for all-round
cooperation in the new century; an agreement on the delimitation of the
Beibu Bay territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone and continental
shelves; as well as two inter-government agreements on the peaceful use of
nuclear energy and on fishing cooperation in the Beibu Bay.
Jiang on Sino-Vietnamese Relations
President said that China is optimistic about its relations with Viet Nam.
Looking into the future, "we are full of confidence" in the constant
development of the relations between the two parties and two countries,
said Jiang during talks with visiting Vietnamese President Tran Luc Luong.
Jiang, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China
Central Committee, said the political foundation of the Sino-Vietnamese
relations has become stronger, and the relationship is distinctly
characterized by mutual respect and support.
He said the joint statement the two countries will sign is an important
document to specify the direction for the further development of friendly
cooperation between China and Viet Nam in various fields.
Jiang said that China has been working to develop its relations with other
members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and support the
organization's unique role in promoting regional peace and development.
According to Jiang, the two countries have made frequent exchanges at all
levels and enhanced political understanding and trust since he met with
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of
Vietnam Le Kha Phieu in February last year.
Economic and trade cooperation has also been expanded. Trade between China
and Viet Nam has hit the set target of two billion US dollars.
President Luong said that Viet Nam has been consistently following the
one-China policy. He said Viet Nam acknowledges that the government of the
People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing
all parts of China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory.
Jiang appreciated Viet Nam's stand on the Taiwan issue, saying that China
will always support Viet Nam's efforts to safeguard its independence and
sovereignty and maintain its national characteristics.
****
Tuesday, December 26, 2000, updated at 21:07(GMT+8)
Sino-Vietnamese Agreement on Beibu Bay Demarcation
Hailed
The Sino-Vietnamese agreement on the demarcation of
the Beibu Bay territorial sea is of particular
significance to Sino-Vietnamese ties, said Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue Tuesday
afternoon.
The on-going visit to China by Vietnamese President
Tran Duc Luong, which began Monday when the pact was
signed, has been successful so far, she noted.
The Vietnamese president has held fruitful
discussions with Chinese leaders and the two
countries have signed some important documents,
including the agreement on the delimitation of the
Beibu Bay territorial sea, Zhang said.
The signing of the agreement shows that the two
countries proceed from a strategic height for
promoting the good- neighborliness and all-round
cooperation between them, she added.
****
Tuesday, December 26, 2000, updated at 13:14(GMT+8)
Yearender: US Adjusts Asia Pacific Policy for New
Century
During the threshold year toward the new century, the
United States has adopted an aggressive approach of
building a new geopolitical landscape in the Asia
Pacific region to serve its strategic needs and help
ensure its dominant role in global affairs.
Improving Ties With Former Foes
Based on continued efforts over the past couple of
years, Washington has made major breakthroughs in
2000 in improving bilateral relations with many Asian
countries, especially with its Cold War foes in the
region.
On the Korean peninsula, while supporting South
Korean President Kim Dae-Jung's "Sunshine" policy
toward Pyongyang, Washington has moved to relax
economic sanctions against the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (DPRK) step by step and provide
humanitarian assistance to the country.
In a context of eased tension on the peninsula, Cho
Myong Rok, first vice-chairman of DPRK National
Defense Commission, paid a historic visit to
Washington in the capacity of special envoy of DPRK
leader Kim Jong-Il last October.
In a joint communique signed during Cho's stay in
Washington, the United States and DPRK agreed to
undertake "a new direction" in their relations and
committed themselves to making every effort in the
future to build a new relationship free from past
enmity.
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, in return,
paid a visit to Pyongyang about two weeks later.
Moreover, US President Bill Clinton has expressed on
several occasions his willingness to visit Pyongyang.
In Southeast Asia, Washington has taken a progressive
step to normalize relations with Vietnam, with which
the United States fought a decade-long war during the
1960s and early 1970s.
Since the United States lifted 30-year-long economic
sanctions against the Cold War rival in 1994, the
United States and Vietnam have made joint efforts to
accelerate the normalization process highlighted by
last July's landmark trade deal which paves the way
for Vietnam to accede to the World Trade
Organization.
Four months later, Clinton became the first US
president to have his footprints in Hanoi since the
end of the Vietnam War in the early 1970s.
Being aware of India's growing economic clout and
strategic importance, Washington has adjusted its
South Asia policy and begun to tilt toward New Delhi
since early 1997, abandoning its long-held "balanced"
approach to treat India and Pakistan as regional peer
powers.
"Preventive Diplomacy" Backed by Military Build-up
The United States has resorted to an active and
bi-directional approach to safeguard what it views as
its security interests in the Asia Pacific region
through so-called "preventive diplomacy."
On one hand, it committed itself to expanding
military exchanges and security dialogue at different
levels with countries such as China, Vietnam,
Australia, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia,
Thailand, South Korea and Japan.
On the other hand, the US reached out to consolidate
its defensive alliances and quietly stepped up its
military buildup in the region.
In 2000 alone, it conducted over 50 joint military
exercises in the region with its allies of the
Philippines, Thailand, South Korea, Japan and
Australia, unprecedented since the end of the Cold
War in terms of frequency and scale.
Meanwhile, it also started to deploy air-borne
conventional cruise missiles and build front-line
backup bases for strategic bombers such as B-2 at
Guam in the Pacific Ocean and Diego Garcia in the
Indian Ocean, giving itself a capability of striking
anywhere in the region within 12 hours.
Despite of strong opposition from many Asian and
Pacific nations, it continued cooperation with Japan
in developing the controversial Theater Missile
Defense (TMD) system for future deployment in the
region.
However, the United States also faces great
challenges to maintain its military presence and
justify its aggressive military deployment in the
region.
As the tension on the Korean peninsula eases, more
and more people in South Korea and Japan believe that
the United States should reduce its armed forces
stationed in the two countries.
The rape of a 14-year-old Japanese schoolgirl by an
American soldier on Okinawa last July sparked
widespread protests against the US military presence
there.
Aiming at Economic Gains
The United States has spared no efforts to tap the
potential of the huge markets in the Asia Pacific
region so as to benefit from the robust regional
economy.
It not only promotes multilateral trade at the Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, but also seeks to
strengthen bilateral trade relations with some
emerging markets in the region.
After years of negotiations, the United States
clinched bilateral trade agreement with China in
November 1999, and with Vietnam last July. And
negotiations with Singapore on a similar trade deal
are expected to conclude in early 2001.
With an eye on India's huge market and its booming IT
industry, Washington has also strengthened its
economic ties with New Delhi.
During Clinton's historic trip to the South Asian
country in March, the two sides signed 4 billion U.S.
dollars worth trade and investment agreements.
Basically speaking, economic and security interests
are two primary factors which have shaped the U.S.
Asia Pacific policy in the past several years.
Regarding economic strength as essential to its
superpower status, the United States could not resist
the huge and lucrative markets in the region,
especially those emerging markets of China,India and
Vietnam.
Statistics released by the US Department of Commerce
shows that the past decade have witnessed a steady
growth of US exports to Asian Pacific countries as
well as US direct investments in the region.
Significantly, America's two-way trade with other
Asian Pacific nations have surpassed that with the
European Union by a remarkable margin in the past few
years.
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