Extracts. Boao Forum: Asia's Choice Amid Globalization Representatives from 25 Asian countries and Australia sealed the deal for the establishment of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Monday on this tropical island in south China, paving the way for the formal launch of the Asian-led international conference organization Tuesday. Analysts here said the BFA is an inevitable choice for Asian countries amid accelerating globalization, and will provide a platform of communications and dialog for Asians to iron out their differences and establish mutually beneficial co-operation. Participants noted that economic globalization will be the top priority on the agenda of the BFA, and that the severe situation will force Asian countries to integrate their advantages before they can confidently face the challenges of globalization. The prevailing view among experts is that economic globalization has increased the inter-dependence of Asian economies, and that enhanced coordination and co-operation in the economic and financial fields will help prevent financial turmoil, for the mutual benefit of Asian countries. The message from the BFA is clear: Asians have realized that they have many things in common, and have found a way to deal with globalization, i.e., by eliminating estrangement and seeking closer co-operation. Robert James Lee Hawke, former prime minister of Australia and an active advocate of the forum, said the BFA will help Asian countries prepare for participation in the process of globalization. The idea of the BFA was first suggested two years ago, in the wake of the Asian financial crisis. This very crisis shows clearly how pale and weak the countries of Asia were in coordinating their economic policies to fend off the crisis. The crisis proved to Asian countries that regional co-operation, communications and bilateral aid are vitally necessary to enhance their defense against potential financial crises. It is widely noted that regional co-operation has been increasing in other parts of the world, as represented by the North American Free Trade Zone and the European Union. Representatives to the forum pointed out that it will be an important mission of the forum to seek solutions to poverty, population, environment and other issues facing Asia amid the background of globalization. They also discussed the issue of cultural values, and held that the establishment of the BFA will make it easier for Asian arts, cultures and traditions to get the respect and support which they deserve, and at the same time make Asia a more interesting partner by keeping its many unique characteristics. The advocates stressed the non-official, non-political and openness of the forum, with the consideration that the gathering of the world's best brains will help Asian leaders and entrepreneurs make wiser decisions, while avoiding ideological arguments will provide an environment for free exchanges and deliberations. Asian countries have show strong interest in the establishment of the forum, according to Chen Jinhua, co-chairman of the Preparatory Committee. Experts predict that the forum will help Asian countries to protect their interests and enhance their competitiveness as a unity, and may have laid the cornerstone for another Asian economic miracle. The time has come for Asians to leave behind their differences and become united. The launch of the BFA is a good beginning for this, the organizers claimed. **** Vice Premier Calls for Determined Fight Against Falun Gong Cult Chinese Vice Premier Li Lanqing has called on Party organizations, officials at various levels and the general public to carry on with the determined fight against the Falun Gong cult, in order to create a favorable environment for social and economic development. He made the call at a grand gathering Monday in Beijing organized by seven Party and government departments to commend 110 organizations and 271 individuals that have distinguished themselves in the fight against the Falun Gong cult. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, lauded the efforts of the organizations and individuals in combating the cult. He condemned the cult for deceiving the people in the name of " truthfulness, kindness and tolerance", exerting "spiritual control " over its followers by preaching nonsense like "the end of the world", and its defiance of the law in organizing illegal demonstrations and disturbing social order. The cult has greatly hurt the physical and mental health of its followers, undermined the interests of the people, and greatly disturbed China's economic construction, social order and political stability, he said. The vice premier pointed out that the actions taken by the Chinese government have been proved correct, and completely conform to the historical tide of human civilization and the interests of the state and the people. The actions have also won the understanding and support of the Chinese people, the overseas compatriots, and countries and individuals worldwide on the side of righteousness. While stressing the need for continued struggle against the small bunch of stubborn followers who have become criminals, the vice premier also called for the greatest efforts to save the majority of the cult's followers by persuasion, reason and law, so that they will rid themselves of the spiritual fetters of the Falun Gong cult and return to normal society as soon as possible. **** CPPCC Nat'l Committee Session to Open March 3 The annual session of the CPPCC National Committee is scheduled to begin on March 3. The decision was made at the 12th Standing Committee meeting of the Ninth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Monday. The meeting, which was attended by Chairman Li Ruihuan <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/leaders/cpcdir/hprofile.html> , who is also a member of the Standing committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, was convened to prepare for the Fourth Session of the CPPCC National Committee. The 12th meeting, scheduled to last for three days, will discuss and decide on a number of issues, including the agenda of the coming annual session, the work report of the standing committee, personnel matters, and a resolution on conducting a series of activities related to the 1911 Revolution which toppled China's last feudalist Qing dynasty and founded the Republic of China. **** Russian President Leaves for South Korea Russia <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/russia.html> n President Vladimir Putin left early Monday for South Korea for a two-day official visit. Shortly before his departure, the president discussed with cabinet members and top Kremlin staff at the airport on economic and trade cooperation with the two countries he is going to visit-- South Korea and Vietnam <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/Vietnam.html> , said the presidential press service. Sergei Prikhodko, deputy head of the presidential administration, spoke earlier at a briefing that Putin's Seoul trip will focus on trade and economic cooperation, since there are no political problems between Russia and South Korea. He said the two sides will also touch upon some international problems, such as the inter-Korean relations, the situation in Southeast Asia, and multilateral exchange within the framework of international organizations. During his first visit to Seoul as a President, Putin is scheduled to meet with his South Korean <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/rok.html> counterpart Kim Dae-jung and other governmental and parliamentary top leaders. He is also expected to hold a meeting with leading South Korean businessmen with the attendance of 30 Russian bigs from the banking sector, as well as the oil and chemical industries. The president will leave South Korea for Vietnam on February 28.This is the first visit by Russian top leader to Hanoi since the former Soviet Union collapsed in 1992. **** Jiang: Asian Nations Need to Enhance Cooperation Chinese President Jiang Zemin said Monday, February 26, that Asian countries need to strengthen cooperation so as to sharpen their competitive edge and ward off risks. Jiang made the remark while meeting Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to the Boao Forum for Asia, which will be inaugurated Tuesday in Boao, south China's island province of Hainan. To the world economy, globalization means both opportunities and challenges, Jiang said. "While the old economic pattern remains basically unchanged, developing countries are generally in a highly disadvantaged position in the course of economic globalization," he said. The newly launched forum, Mahathir said, provides Asian countries with a chance to discuss problems and coordinate with each other, which will help them safeguard their own interests. Mahathir said that it is a good idea to create such a forum, where Asian countries can express their views on major world issues more clearly. The Malaysian prime minister said that developing countries should be more actively involved in the reforms of international financial and trade systems in response to the challenges brought about by globalization. Jiang said the forum, a non-official international organization, provides a new channel for Asian countries to conduct dialogs and carry out cooperation. The setting up of the forum reflects the common wishes of the Asian people, and promotes understanding among the various countries of Asia, he said. It will also enhance understanding and cooperation between Asia and other parts of the world, the Chinese president added. Present at the meeting were Chinese Vice-Premier Qian Qichen, Deputy Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee Chen Jinhua, and other senior officials. Senior CPC Official Meets UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Li Tieying, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met Monday with Mary Robinson, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights. Li, also president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, briefed Robinson on China's basic position on human rights and China's achievements in the area in recent years. The two sides had an extensive exchange of views on the history of the human rights issue, the ways to promote human rights, and the international human rights documents. They acknowledged that governments in the world have the responsibility to further promote and protect human rights in accordance with the principle of those documents. The two sides agreed that academic institutions have made positive efforts for the cause of human rights in various countries and that the international community should provide more favorable conditions for them, especially those of the developing countries, to participate in international human rights activities. Although he indicated that he would continue to push forward the resumption of the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, he did not make it clear whether the peace talks would resume from where it was broken off, nor did he set the specific date for the peace talks. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
