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Chinese, Moldovan Leaders Exchange Greetings on Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations. Chinese and Moldovan leaders exchanged greetings on Wednesday on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Chinese and Moldovan leaders exchanged greetings on Wednesday on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In a congratulatory message to his Moldovan counterpart, Vladimir Voronin, Chinese President Jiang Zemin said the establishment of Sino-Moldovan diplomatic ties on January 30, 1992 opened a new chapter for the two countries in developing friendly cooperative relations. During the past decade, the two countries have understood and supported each other in safeguarding national independence, state sovereignty and territorial integrity and in dealing with other major issues of national interests, said the Chinese president. He said the two countries have maintained close and fruitful exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and they have established a new type of state-to-state relationship based on political equality and mutual trust, mutually beneficial economic cooperation and mutual support in world affairs. Jiang stressed that a comprehensive, lasting and healthy development of bilateral ties can be realized only by adhering to the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. It serves the basic interests of the two countries and two peoples to further Sino-Moldovan ties and enhance bilateral friendship in the new century, he said. In a separate message to Moldovan Parliament Speaker Eugenia Ostapciuc, Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, said the Sino-Moldovan friendship, with a wide-ranging social foundation, is supported by the two peoples, and the Chinese people have always regarded the Moldovan people as reliable partners and close friends. In his message to Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, said that since China and Moldova established diplomatic relations 10 years ago, the two countries have consistently strengthened exchanges and cooperation in such fields as politics, economy, trade, science and technology, culture, education and health care. He expressed the belief that mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Moldova, the two countries which have great potential and broad prospective for further cooperation, will be fruitful through unremitting efforts by both sides. Voronin, in his message to Jiang, said he is pleased to see the smooth development of bilateral relations on the basis of equality, respect and mutual trust since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Jiang's visit to Moldova in July 2001 has further strengthened the friendship between the two countries, he said. Ostapciuc and Tarlev sent messages to their Chinese counterparts separately on the occasion. Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and Moldovan Foreign Minister Nocolae Dudau also exchanged congratulatory messages. **** Russia Puts New Strategic Missiles on Combat Duty. The Russian Defense Ministry put six new-type Topol-M strategic missile systems on combat duty as planned in 2001, and is putting more mobile missile complexes in army service this year, Russian Deputy Defense Minister, Colonel-General Alexei Moskovsky, announced Tuesday. The Russian Defense Ministry put six new-type Topol-M strategic missile systems on combat duty as planned in 2001, and is putting more mobile missile complexes in army service this year, Russian Deputy Defense Minister, Colonel-General Alexei Moskovsky, announced Tuesday. "Another six Topol-Ms will be purchased by the Defense Ministry and be used in the Armed Forces this year," the general told reporters. It takes 18 months to manufacture one Topol-M missile. The state program on the development of weapons until 2010, which the government adopted days ago, sets the rate of putting missiles on combat readiness, he said. Topol-M is a most up-to-date intercontinental ballistic missile that was developed in 1990s and can be launched from either a silo or carrier. It adopts solid booster fuel, highly precise guiding systems and faster-launching technologies, featuring much higher flight speed than any other Russian strategic missiles. Russian military experts say it can penetrate any missile defense umbrella. In 1998, when 10 such systems were adopted, 40 percent of the governmental spending on arms purchases was channeled to the development of strategic forces, In 2001 and 2002, only 18 percent was assigned to the strategic rocket force, Moskovsky said. Moscow plans to fully equip its strategic rocket force with such missiles by 2010. **** Arafat Meets With Russian Envoy Over Mideast Situation. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Tuesday discussed with visiting Russian Mideast envoy Andrei Vdovin the current situation in the region in the West Bank city of Ramallah, reported the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA). Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Tuesday discussed with visiting Russian Mideast envoy Andrei Vdovin the current situation in the region in the West Bank city of Ramallah, reported the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA). The two sides also discussed a four-way meeting proposed to be held in the United States , said WAFA. During the meeting, Arafat briefed Vdovin on the continuous Israeli attacks against the Palestinian people and the international efforts to put an end to the Palestinian-Israeli violence and to restore the peace process in the region. After the meeting, the Russian envoy told reporters that the four-way meeting in Washington will deal with the deteriorating situation in the Middle East and means of resolving the current crisis. "We believe that it is necessary to end terrorism and all kinds of violence without infringement of the Palestinian National Authority," said Vdovin, adding that "Rather, we have to strengthen the PNA's position as an essential partner in the peace process." What's now important is to discuss the issue with all peace brokers to try to reach a coordinated stance on ways of dealing with the current crisis, he said. Vdovin added that he had discussed the matter with Arafat and was acquainted with Arafat's positions in this regard. **** China Calls for More Attention to African Realities in Seeking Solution. China Tuesday called for more world attention to African realities in discussing and seeking a solution to the African issue, which is of great concerns to the UN Security Council and the world at large. "The Chinese Government will as always continue to strengthen its cooperation with African countries and make efforts to help find solutions to regional issues in Africa", says Chinese permanent representative to the UN. China Attaches Importance to Sino-African Relations: Vice President China Tuesday called for more world attention to African realities in discussing and seeking a solution to the African issue, which is of great concerns to the UN Security Council and the world at large. Different characteristics on African continent Wang Yingfan, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, told an open Security Council meeting that "we believe that when discussing and seeking a solution to the African issue, we should never forget the realities in Africa and neglect its unique characteristics." "Our world is diversified," he said. "The African continent is an important part of it." "After long and unremitting struggles, most African countries won national independence by the middle of the 20th century," he said. "However, due to years of colonialism as well as other reasons, their economic foundation is extremely weak, education for their people is minimal and their socioeconomic development has been hampered by many factors." China Will Always Be Africa's "Good Friend": Chinese Leader -After winning independence, many African countries have traversed a difficult path of twists and turns," he said. "At present, like many other places, Africa also faces the two tasks of peace and development." "But these two tasks take on different characteristics on the African continent and have a lot to do with its history, relations between countries and ethnic groups as well as the socioeconomic realities there," he said. Poverty and armed conflicts cause terrorism After the September 11 event, the international community has come to realize that poverty and armed conflicts are causes of terrorism, he said. "We believe that, only by increasing development aid to African countries and helping them develop economy and eradicate poverty can we lay a solid basis for a thorough solution to African conflicts." The Organization of Africa Unity (OAU) and other African sub-regional groups are working hard to solve African regional conflicts and to promote economic development there, he said. "As a primary organ for maintaining world peace and security, the Security Council has squarely on its shoulders a responsibility to solve the issue of African conflicts," he said. "Promoting peace and development in Africa and strengthening cooperation with African countries constitutes an important part of China's foreign policy," he said. Active cooperation to solve regional issues In October 2000, China successfully hosted the China-Africa Forum on Cooperation in Beijing, the Chinese capital. The senior officials meeting and the ministerial meeting of the China-Africa Forum on Cooperation will be held in Ethiopia this year and next year respectively. "Preparations for these two meetings are smoothly under way," he said. "The Chinese Government has always tried to provide necessary assistance to African countries to the best of its capacity." The China-Africa Forum on Cooperation has already identified the fields and some projects of cooperation between the two sides, he said. "The Chinese Government has also made a pledge on reducing and exempting debts owed by African countries to China." By now, more than 20 countries have signed with China the protocol on debt reduction and exemption, he said. "The Chinese Government will as always continue to strengthen its cooperation with African countries and make efforts to help find solutions to regional issues in Africa." **** Why China Gives Huge Financial Aid to Afghanistan? (I) "After the start of its reconstruction, Afghanistan needs huge amounts of materials and financial aid. I have stressed on many international occasions that Afghanistan is like a car on its onward run. When Afghan people are sitting in the driveršs cab and controlling the steering wheel in their advance, we resolutely oppose others treading on the throttle or applying a brake, the Afghan people should be allowed to become genuine drivers. The following article is about a call on a Chinese ambassador in charge of Afghan affairs, the source of which is drawn from China Youth Daily. "After the start of its reconstruction, Afghanistan needs huge amounts of materials and financial aid. I have stressed on many international occasions that Afghanistan is like a car on its onward run. When Afghan people are sitting in the driver's cab and controlling the steering wheel in their advance, we resolutely oppose others treading on the throttle or applying a brake, the Afghan people should be allowed to become genuine drivers." The above remarks were made by Mr. Wang Xuexian, Chinese ambassador in charge of Afghan affairs and Chinese ranking official of the Asian-European conference. The information transmitted from the ambassador's figurative metaphor has received the unanimous favorable comments from Afghanistan's interim government and many developing countries. On January 25, he accepted the exclusive interview by a reporter of China Youth Daily in Beijing. That same day, Sun Guoxiang, deputy director of the Asian Department of Chinese Foreign Ministry, briefed foreign reporters from the Beijing Foreign Reporters Information Center concerning the situation regarding Afghanistan's provisional government President Hamid Kazai's visit to China. On the evening of a day before, China formally announced to the world that on the basis of the respective financial aid of RMB30 million and US$1 million, China would further provide Afghanistan with assistance of US$150 million (one US dollar is equivalent to 8.3 yuan). At that time, Wang Xuexian, as a "special envoy of the Chinese government", just returned from the Tokyo Aid-to-Afghanistan Conference to Beijing. Ambassador Wang explained that the Chinese ambassador in charge of Afghan affairs handles China's international multilateral coordination relating to the Afghanistan issue, particularly relating to Afghanistan's multilateral international conference, generally speaking, it does not involve China's internal coordination and China-Afghanistan bilateral relationship. Tokyo Conference Extends Generous Aid According to the estimate made by the United Nations, World Bank and Asian Development Bank, in the coming 10 years, at least US$15 billion will be needed for Afghanistan's reconstruction, US$10 billion will be needed for the first five years alone, only with this aid will it be possible for Afghanistan to restore and maintain its normal operation. This sum does not include humanitarian aid extended in the form of medicine, foodstuffs and tents to Afghanistan. The January 21-22 Tokyo meeting was crowned with rich fruits. Numerous countries, particularly the developed ones and neighboring countries, based on consideration of their different interests, extended huge amounts of money. The US$4.5 billion worth of funds collected at the conference was beyond Kazai's own expectations. Of course, there are reasons for this. The United States, which has badly battered Afghanistan, naturally need take out huge amounts of funds to help Afghanistan's reconstruction, otherwise, it will be difficult for America to keep a foothold in Afghanistan and Central Asia, the United States sent out a 130-plus-member formidable delegation headed by Secretary of State Colin Powell, indicating the importance it attached to the conference. At the meeting, the United States donated US$296 million, which made it, among single nations, the country extending the greatest donation in one year. Japan, as the host, also donated US$500 million, its aim was no more than an anxious intention to expand its influence on the Central Asian region. For this reason, Japan's generosity was extended without regard for the great cost, despite the fact that it had been crying in the face of other countries about its decade-long economic depression. India also readily gave promise of aid to Afghanistan. Iran readily promised US$560 million, Saudi Arabia, as a Moslem brother, took out US$220 million, EU extended an amount of US$495 million, but it repeatedly stressed on many occasions, "the amount of aid we, EU members, extended to Afghanistan was the greatest." Notwithstanding, some members within the EU complained that they had spent too much this time. Noteworthy is that the aid extended by certain developed countries to Afghanistan was attached with preconditions, the aid was either hooked up with politics, or with military affairs, or with getting closer to security, the aim of these countries was trying to seize initiative on the issue of Afghanistan. Speaking specifically about the Tokyo conference, Ambassador Wang said that attending the Tokyo conference were representatives from 61 countries and 21 international organizations. The conference was the continuation of many international conferences on Afghan affairs, it is closely connected with the already concluded Washington Conference, Islamabad Conference, Brussels Conference and Bonn Conference. The Tokyo Conference was co-chaired by the United States, Japan, EU and Saudi Arabia, the four chair states of the "special guidance group" for the Afghanistan issue. Ambassador Wang commented, "Generally speaking, this was an active and pragmatic conference, the international community paid great attention to this meeting, because it was linked together with the international anti-terrorism endeavor." Ambassador Wang said, "It goes without saying that Afghanistan is in desperate need of aid. Settlement of the anti-terrorist military problem in Afghanistan is followed by the need to solve the problem regarding Afghanistan's reconstruction. The various parties exhibited enormous enthusiasm in providing Afghanistan with humanitarian aid and helping the Afghan people in rebuilding their homeland, adopted many positive and effective measures and made many promises. On this basis, a total of US$4.5 billion was raised at the conference, the amount of aid for the first year was US$1.8 billion. Of course, the stand points of various countries in extending aid to Afghanistan differ in a thousand and one ways." Wang added that the Chinese government expressed its appreciation of this pragmatic conference, and believed the conference would produce positive impact on Afghanistan's embarkation onto the development road of peace and stability, nevertheless, the more arduous task in the future is to honor the commitments. Chinese Aid to Its Neighbor-Afghanistan Ambassador Wang said that China, as neighbor of Afghanistan, has a common boundary of 92 km with Afghanistan. Historically, China and Afghanistan had all along been friendly to each other. China had always maintained friendly contacts with the Afghan government prior to the Taliban regime. China had always been concerned about the peaceful settlement of the Afghanistan issue and had paid consistent attention to humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and its post-war reconstruction. Together with the international community, China is willing to actively participate in Afghanistan's post-war reconstruction. The Chinese Foreign Ministry's Website quoted an official with the Asian Department as saying, "China and Afghanistan, as neighbors, have maintained a very good relationship. The Chinese people have always cherished very friendly sentiments for the Afghan people. China's aid to Afghanistan has never been interrupted, even in the periods of former Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the country's civil war, China offered aid each year to Afghanistan through relevant international agencies." Ambassador Wang revealed that on the occasion of the founding of the Afghan provisional government, China provided Afghanistan with 30 million yuan worth of emergency humanitarian material aid. At the Tokyo conference, the Chinese government again announced that it would further provided Afghanistan with US$1 million in spot exchange as funds for starting the functioning of the Afghan provisional government. This amount of US$1 million has been transferred to the account of the Afghan interim government. On January 24, Chinese President Jiang Zemin, in meeting with Kazai, again announced China's offer of reconstruction aid worth US$150 million. Why does China extend so generous aid to Afghanistan? The ambassador said there are still many poverty-stricken areas in China itself, and now large-scale development of the western region is under way, each cent of money is useful in China. The fact that China tries its best to aid Afghanistan is based on the following four aspects of consideration: * First, assistance and support to the developing countries are the consistent stand and starting-point of China's foreign policy. To many developing countries in the world, when they encounter difficulties, China invariably provides them with possible help, this is determined by the nature of China's foreign policy. Since China and Afghanistan established diplomatic relations, the two countries have all along maintained neighborly and friendly ties, furthermore, many among the Chinese leaders of the older generation had visited Afghanistan. * Second, as a neighbor bordering on Afghanistan and as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China hopes that Afghanistan would achieve peace, national conciliation and national prosperity. Such an Afghanistan is very important to the entire Central Asian region as well as to China, what is more, Afghanistan's peace and development are vitally important to the crackdown on terrorism in the region. * Third, when Taliban was in power, Bin Laden's "Qaida" had also trained China's "Turkistan" separatists who posed serious threat to peace and stability in China's Xinjiang and its western region, China is also a victim of terrorism. Speaking from this angle, China's help to Afghanistan in its anti-terrorism actually is a help to China itself. * Fourth, China's aid to Afghanistan is helpful to the future economic and trade cooperation between China and Afghanistan, it can also boost the development of Chinese enterprises on the Afghan market. Nowadays, Afghanistan is heavily damaged with many things waiting to be done, there are many opportunities and advantages for China to participate in Afghanistan's construction and development, for instance, in Afghanistan's construction of infrastructure and agriculture. In the meantime, Sun Guoxiang also indicates, "China takes a positive attitude in its help to Afghanistan's post-war reconstruction. China has both technology and ability to participate in Afghanistan's post-war rebuilding work. We will conduct further discussions with Afghan provisional government on the concrete projects." In short, the ambassador stated: China's aid to Afghanistan is both beneficial to the Afghan people and helps promote the long-term cooperation between China and Afghanistan. **** Dow Drops 247 Points. Investors showed a growing lack of faith in corporate America's accounting practices Tuesday, sending the Dow Jones industrials tumbling nearly 250 points on worries that more companies might be vulnerable to bookkeeping scandals. Investors showed a growing lack of faith in corporate America's accounting practices Tuesday, sending the Dow Jones industrials tumbling nearly 250 points on worries that more companies might be vulnerable to bookkeeping scandals. Analysts said Wall Street, already jittery about the timing of an economic recovery, was concerned that companies including the conglomerate Tyco might suffer from the same type of balance-sheet irregularities that brought down Enron. The Dow fell 247.51, or 2.5%, at 9618.24. It was the biggest point drop in three months. The losses were even more significant in broader indicators. The Nasdaq composite index fell 50.92, or 2.6%, to 1892.99. The Standard & Poor's 500 index dropped 32.42, or 2.9%, to 1100.64. **** U.S. President's Niece Arrested, Charged With Prescription Fraud. The daughter of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was arrested Tuesday in Tallahassee on charges of trying to fill a fake prescription for the popular tranquilizer Xanax. The daughter of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was arrested Tuesday in Tallahassee on charges of trying to fill a fake prescription for the popular tranquilizer Xanax. Bush and his wife, Columba, issued a statement that they were "deeply saddened" by the incident involving their middle child and only daughter, Noelle, 24. They asked the media and the public to respect their privacy "during this difficult time so that we can help our daughter." A Walgreens pharmacist suspicious about a call-in prescription notified police at 1:15 a.m. when Noelle Bush showed up at the drugstore's drive-through in her white Volkswagen to pick it up. She was charged with prescription fraud, a felony that carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail and a $5,000 fine. Noelle Bush has no known criminal record and was released without having to post bond. Experts say punishment for a first offense is usually drug treatment or probation. Noelle Bush has been cited for about a dozen traffic violations and was involved in three automobile crashes since 1995, according to The Associated Press. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
