Economic Construction Achievement is Prominent in China's Fourteen Border Opening-up Cities.
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, February 12 - delightful economic construction result was achieved in China's fourteen border opening-up cities in 1995.
According to statistics, GDP registered over 19 billion yuan last year in those cities, over 90% higher than those of year 1991 before opening-up.
Fourteen border cities like Heihe, Pingxiang, Huichun, Yinin, and Ruili etc were approved successively by the State Council in 1992 as the cities opening to the outside world, setting up of fourteen border economic co-operation zones in these cities were also approved simultaneously.
Since more than three years, the social economy has been developed quickly in these cities with considerably strengthened local economic power; their average annual economic growth is 17% that is higher than the average annual growth rate nationwide.
It is said that the urban construction and the construction and development of co-operation zone in these 14 cities have been speeded up.
Since three years, the accumulative fixed investment in these cities has reached 12 billion yuan, the circumstances of border cities in former days, "buildings were not tall, roads were not level, lamps were not bright, water was not clean, communication was not expedite," has been changed.
In the economic co-operation zone, 22.6 square kilometers of land was developed, 287 foreign-founded enterprises were introduced, with an actual utilization of foreign investment at 890 million US dollars.
In addition, there are 5,100 domestic-cooperative enterprises, and 175 industrial projects that were put into production, in these zones.
The Huanghe River "Golden Delta" Became A New Hot Spot of Investment.
Xinhua News Agency, Taiyuan, February 7 (by Journalist Shan Baohong and probationer Hu Jingguo)- Feng Lingdu Economic Development Zone known as "Golden Delta", that is located at the border of three provinces of Shan Xi, Shan Xi and Henan, is getting more and more attractive to both domestic and foreign businessmen and became a new hot spot of investment.
Feng Lingdu Economic Development Zone is the only development zone within China that was built based on a small town. It is also a new channel of the inland province, Shan Xi province, which leads to outside world.
After more than three years construction, this zone has taken shape of a comprehensive wholesale market for the circulation of timber, medicine, tobacco, garment, food and oil, industrial products and many other commodities.
At the moment, tall buildings stand in great numbers, and merchants are gathering in this development zone, a multi-functional modern city with investment of 60 million yuan - the new zone of Golden Delta is close to its completion, 2,000 program-controlled phones have been put into operation, 10KV high voltage power system runs well, all those attract a lot of investors. The products of over thirty factories like lemon factory, perfume factory, special paint factory etc, are transported continually to various inland places, three newly built special hospitals of orthopedics, gynecology, and pediatrics with advanced facilities has opened to public.
The rapidly rising Golden Delta catches the eyes of foreign businessmen. At present, over 50 consortiums and companies from the countries and regions of U.S., France, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan are negotiating on eleven projects with a total investment as high as 320 million yuan.
Village and Township Enterprises in Southeast Fujian Province of China Keeps A Leading Position in Development.
Xinhua News Agency, Fuzhou, March 10 (by Journalist Xu Ting)- Southeast area of Fujian province keeps its leading position in the development of village and township enterprises that forms half of the economic volume of Fujian province.
Last year, the total economic volume of village and township enterprises in five areas and cities of Fuzhou, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, and Putian formed more than 70% of the provincial value.
According to the statistics of Village and Township Enterprises Bureau of Fujian Province, the total production value of the village and township enterprises in Fujian province in 1995 registered to Renminbi 238.15 billion yuan, of which the industrial output value was 155.9 billion yuan and an annual profit of 10.9 billion yuan.
The GNP created by the village and township enterprises occupied about 1/3 of the total GNP in Fujian province.
During the Eighth Five-Year Plan (from 1991 to 1995), the village and township enterprises in Fujian province turned over totally 18.56 billion Renminbi yuan tax to its higher authorities, accomplished export delivery value of 105.5 billion Renminbi yuan.
Eleven village and township enterprises in this province has been listed into the "The village and township enterprises with best economic effect and profit" in China.
Recently, a number of village and township enterprises or enterprise groups with higher science and technology and of sustainable development have been mushroomed in Fujian province.
Statistics show that more than 50 out of 191 established village and township enterprises around the province are with the output value over 100 million Renminbi yuan, some of them even reaches 500 million to one billion yuan.
Both Fuxin Investment Zone in Gushan town of Fuzhou and Qiaotou Industrial Zone in Anhai of Jinjiang have become model zones in nationwide village and township enterprises.
More Foreign Capital Injects in Jiangsu Agriculture
Xinhua News Agency, Nanjing, December 16 (by Journalist Zhou Fang) - More foreign capitals have been injected in agriculture of Jiangsu province.
At present, 800 agricultural projects in Jiangsu province are with foreign direct investment with total amount of more than 800 million US dollars.
According to the officials from Agriculture and Forest department of Jiangsu province, since 1994, the foreign-funded enterprises approved by the agricultural authorities in Jiangsu province have been over 500, the utilization of foreign capital has reached more than 700 million US dollars, they are three and seven times against those before 1993 respectively.
The foreign investment from U.S., Japan, and Singapore has increased more. In new projects, the proportion of foreign funded ones are getting higher and higher, and wholly foreign owned enterprises have considerably increased.
The rapid growth of foreign investment made up to a certain degree the insufficiency investment in agriculture of Jiangsu province and speeded up the development and utilization of agricultural resources.
According to statistics, Jiangsu province now owns more than 100 agricultural and by-product processing enterprises with output value over 100 million yuan each.
The Ruyi Group in Lian Yungang utilized Japanese government load and foreign direct investment to established a vegetable processing and sales enterprise with the largest export volume and the most varieties presently in China.
Jiangsu province utilized foreign investment to introduce nearly one hundred good breeds as barley for beer brewage, California perch, Luoshi shrimp, improved chicken, lean type pig, vegetables, flowers etc and advanced production and processing technology. All those resulted in a considerably improved agricultural production level.
Henan Province Held Economic Co-operation Meeting with Foreign Financial Institutions in Beijing.
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, December 16 (by Journalist Yu Haishen)- Today, Henan provincial government held economic co-operation negotiating meeting here with 100 representatives from 88 foreign financial institutions in Beijing to promote mutual understanding between Henan province and international finance circle so as to exploit financing channels for Henan's economic development.
Chen Yuan, vice president of People's Bank of China, made a speech in his congratulation to the meeting that Chinese government has made decision to strengthen the development of her middle and western regions, encourage domestic and foreign enterprises to invest in middle and western regions, and decided to utilize more than 60% of the loans from foreign banks and governments for middle and western regions in the future.
Kuschyat, Chairman of the Foreign Financial Institutions in Beijing and the chief representative of Beijing office of the General Bank of Belgium, expressed in the meeting that the Foreign Financial Institutions in Beijing are willing to make contribution to Henan's economic construction and development of middle and western regions in China.
Li Chenyu, executive vice governor of Henan province, made an introduction in the meeting about the natural resources and economic development situation of this province.
He said, Henan province not only has necessary hardware for foreign investment, but also has made the preferential policies based on state policies and combined with local actual situation to encourage foreign investment and develop foreign economic and trade technical co-operation
The relative departments of Henan province released the foreign economic co-operation projects of the province in this meeting, and held talks with the participating representatives on co-operation intentions of the projects involved.
The Utilization of Foreign Investment in China Registered A Growth of 27% Up To November.
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, December 17 - although both the number of approved foreign capital utilization projects and contractual foreign investment amount up to November this year dropped as compare with the same period of last year, the actual utilization of foreign investment still grew 27.01%.
The data provided by Ministry of Foreign Economic Trade and Co-operation indicates that the actual foreign investment utilization in China reached 46.959 billion US dollars up to November this year, including foreign direct investment of 40.07 billion US dollars.
China has approved 18,644 foreign investment utilized projects up to November this year, fell 15.34% as compare with the same period of last year, the accumulative contractual foreign capital reached 48.462 billion US dollars, fell 27.14%.
In the newly approved foreign funded enterprises, the number of Sino-foreign joint venture and Sino-foreign co-operative enterprises decreased considerably, but wholly foreign owned enterprises increased by 4.12% to 8,484.
The actual foreign investment rose 30% than that of the same period last year.
Up to November this year, China approved 13 new foreign cooperative developing projects, while it was 10 in the same period last year.
The contractual utilization of foreign investment and actual utilized foreign investment registered 205 million and 311 million US dollars, rose 14.53% and 61.89% respectively as compare with that of the same period last year.
Shantou New and High Technology Developing Zone Draws Attention of Domestic and Foreign Investors.
Xinhua News Agency, Shantou, December 20 - Due to the improvement of investment environment and a good developing tendency, Shantou New and High Technology Developing Zone draws attention of domestic and foreign investors.
Some Chaozhou scientists who reside in "Silicon Valley" in U.S. expressed their wish to establish new and high technology industry in the zone; the president of Motorola China, the relative personnel of Ericsson company also came to the developing zone to negotiate on the investment projects; while the businessmen from Taiwan expressed their intention to establish science and technologt software R&D companies in the developing zone.
At present, Shantou New and High Technology Developing Zone has already had accumulative investment of 1.8 billion yuan, constructed factory buildings of 370,000 square meters, the infrastructures and supporting facilities like water, electricity, communication, and bounded warehouse etc have been built and put into operation.
Up to the beginning of November this year, totally 177 projects were set up in the zone with an overall investment of 6.4 billion yuan including 50% foreign investment. Among the projects in this zone, seven enterprises were recognized as State new and high technology enterprise.
In this year, the accumulative industrial output in this zone registered 3.7 billion yuan, total income from technology, industry, and trade reached 4.55 billion yuan, export volume was 127.47 million US dollars, achieved tax and profit of 360 million yuan.
Meanwhile, Shantou municipality made and released more than 10 regulations, policies, and measures to encourage the establishment of knowledge-intensive and technology-intensive industries with new and high technology in this zone.
Import and Export Exceeds 9 billion USD This Year in Pudong New Area.
Xinhua News Agency, Shanghai, December 21 ( by Journalist Wu Yu and reporter Pu Hai) - According to statistics of Pudong Customhouse of Shanghai, up to November this year the total volume of import and export in Pudong New area (including Wai Gaoqiao Bonded Zone) reached 8.579 billion US dollars, nearly one quarter growth than that of the same period last year.
It is estimated that the total annual volume of import and export will exceed 9 billion US dollars.
The foreign trade of Pudong New Area this year shows the characters of balance between import and export, and a strong growth.
In this segment, the processing trade developed more rapidly. More than 200 state-owned enterprises in this new area started their business of processing trade, they have equal shares with the foreign funded enterprises in both enterprise numbers and recorded contractual amount. Moreover, their way of manufacturing and business is gradually shifting from simple processing of imported material to deep processing of hi-tech and high value added products.
According to the report, thanks to the facts that the foreign funded enterprises increased their investment in the way of equipment importation, and China opened her foreign trade field to foreign funded enterprises firstly in Pudong and established three Sino-foreign joint venture trading companies, the import and export volume of foreign funded enterprises in Pudong this year was 37.4% higher than that of the same period last year and reached 3.86 billion US dollars, constituting 45% of the total import and export volume in Pudong.
As to the import and export commodity mix, machinery, and electrical products played the leading role in Pudong New Area's imported products, most of them were computers, integrated circuits and micro-electronic components etc; while for export, the major part consisted of machinery and electrical products, garments, weaving and knitting products.
Japan still remains the number one trade partner followed by U.S. and Hong Kong in the second and third position.
Urban Construction Became New Hot Spot of Foreign Investment in Qinghai.
Xinhua News Agency, Xinin, December 21 - The urban infrastructure construction, that restricted foreign investment before, has now been attractive to foreign businessmen and become a new field focusing on the utilization of foreign investment in Qinghai after the development of resources.
The investment to Xinin's urban infrastructure construction has been insufficient for a long time. In the period of 46 years from the founding of new China to 1995, the total investment was about 400 million yuan only. The backwardness in urban construction restricted the development of economy.
In recent two years, a number of foreign businessmen expressed one after another their intention of involvement in Xinin's urban construction.
Qinghai provincial government made the best of this situation and put forward an urban construction concept of commercialization of infrastructure, and approved íµThe Regulations of Encouraging and Guiding Foreign Investment in Xininí¸at the beginning of this year.
Once the decision on compensable transfer of the power of management on East Exit Road of Xinin city was released, more than ten foreign companies came right away to negotiate on this project and the bid was finally closed at 50 million yuan.
Mo Jiajie old city reconstruction project, which was designed according to modern city function, was contracted exclusively to a Hong Kong company with investment of 50 million yuan.
The new construction project of the sixth water source utilized foreign investment of nearly 20 million yuan, with a water supply capacity of 150,000 ton per day that will greatly reduce the tension of water supply of Xinin city.
A construction agreement of North Exit Road Project, that needs an investment of 180 million yuan, was signed with Huatai Company of Hong Kong. Meanwhile, several foreign companies came to negotiate on the Project of Express Highway that around the South City.
China Approved More Than 300,000 Foreign Funded Enterprises
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, December 25(by Journalist Lu Yongjian) - According to the latest news from Ministry of Foreign Economic and Trade, by the end of November this year, the total number of foreign funded enterprises approved in China was 302,464.
It was said that among these 300,000 plus foreign funded enterprises, 182,059 are Sino-foreign joint venture enterprises that formed 60%; 44,094 are Sino-foreign cooperative enterprises that constituted 15%; and wholly foreign owned enterprises are 76,161 that is about 25%.
Now, the multi-channel structure of China's utilization of foreign investment has taken shape, the foreign investment comes from more than 170 countries and regions.
By the end of September this year, to be sorted based on the amount of actual utilization of foreign investment, the top ten countries and regions with most investment to China are: Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, U.S., Singapore, Korea, U.K., German, Virgin Island, and France.
The investment from these top ten countries and regions to China constitutes over 91% in the total actual utilization of foreign investment in the whole country.
Asian countries and regions are the major sources of foreign investment to China. The total investment from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and ASEAN forms over 85% of the total utilization of foreign investment nationwide.
Hong Kong remains the major source of foreign investment for inland region; it constitutes more than 55% in accumulative actual absorbed foreign investment.
Nearly 100 Foreign-funded Enterprises in Tianjin Development Zone Became Customs Bonding Factories
Xinhua News Agency, Tianjin, December 27 - Journalist knew from Tianjin Customhouse that more than 20 foreign funded enterprises, including General Semiconductor (China) Co.,Ltd etc, have been recently verified by Tianjin Customhouse and become bonded factories that can enjoy preferential policies of the customhouse.
Up to now, 99 foreign funded enterprises in Tianjin Economic and Technical Development Zone have become the bonded factories.
It is said that Tianjin customhouse has been working actively in recent years in line with international usual practice, with the purposes of strengthening macro-management of enterprises, optimizing customs clearance procedure, and promoting trade efficiency, to extend vigorously the bonded factory system.
Being a new local economic growth point, the processing trade is developing rapidly in the Economic and Technical Development Zone. At present, there are 220 foreign funded enterprises engaged in processing trade. The number of bonded factories constitutes 41% among all the enterprises that gradually forms a Bonded Factory System containing industries like electronics, chemical products, textile, communication, and automobile etc. Motorola, Samsung Electronic, and Yamaha etc are members of the system.
According to the officials from Customhouse of Tianjin Development Zone, the bonded factory will reduce trade cost and increase trade benefit.
After becoming a bonded factory, the General Semiconductor (China) Co., Ltd reduces its working capital occupancy by 500,000 US dollars per day.
This company pointed out that they would invest additional 90 million US dollars in five coming years. The estimated annual output at that time would be 300 million US dollars .
High Growth with Low Inflation Structure Forms in Gansu Economy
Xinhua News Agency, Lanzhou, January 6 (Journalist Sun Zhipin) - Gansu province that located in northwest China showed its good economic developing tendency last year, that was a gradually formed "High Growth with Low Inflation" developing structure.
In 1997, the GDP of Gansu province reached 78.13 billion yuan, showed a growth of 8.3% as compare with same period; retail price rising rate dropped from previous year's 6.6% to 1.8%, dweller consumer price rising rate lowered from 19.8% to 3%.
Gansu province actively implemented the strategy of developing agriculture by science and technology, took advantage of applicable agricultural technology and yield increasing measures like plastic sheet covering, saving water for irrigation, collecting rainwater for irrigation etc. All these resulted in a good harvest with an annual grain yield of 7.66 billion kilograms.
In this year, the issue of having enough food and clothing was solved for 9.16 billion people in this province.
Last year, the economic benefit of large and medium state-owned enterprises in Gansu began to rise. By October, the net loss decreased over 50 million yuan than that of the same period of previous year.
The annual industry output in whole province was increased by 28.71 billion yuan, showed a growth rate of 10.3% than that of previous year.
Meanwhile, the investment in fixed assets was increased and hit a total amount of 26 billion yuan, the growth rate was 21% as compare with the same period.
In addition, Gansu province shows a good situation of opening to the outside world.
The export profit in foreign currency of the whole year was 400 million US dollars, while import was 250 million US dollars.
The actual utilization of foreign investment of the whole year reached 260 million US dollars.
The Inland Economic Development Will Provide Five Great Opportunities for Hong Kong SAR, Gu Yongjiang said.
Gu Yongjiang indicated that the inland economic development would provide five great opportunities for Hong Kong.
- It is helpful for Hong Kong to have a long-term prosperous and steady economy.
If inland economy grows steadily on a long-term basis, Hong Kong will benefit from the energetic inland economy.
- It will provide more business opportunities for Hong Kong.
Along with the scheduled opening of inland trade, finance, retail, and other services, Hong Kong's service industry will have a wider developing arena.
- It is helpful for Hong Kong to strengthen its position of trade and navigation center.
By year of 2010, the aggregate inland trade volume will hopefully hit 800 billion US dollars that no doubt will increase the need for transit and transhipment via Hong Kong. It will contribute Hong Kong to strengthen its position of trade and navigation center.
- It will further stimulate the development of Hong Kong's finance market.
Along with the deepening reform of state-owned enterprises, more share-holding enterprises will be listed on overseas stock market. Hong Kong will then be the first choice abroad for listed state-owned enterprises.
This will expand the scale of Hong Kong's stock market, improve its structure, and stimulate the development of Hong Kong's bond market. More Chinese fund will emerge in Hong Kong. All those will consolidate and strengthen Hong Kong's position of international financial center.
- It will improve the international competitive power of Hong Kong's commodity.
The complementary economic relationship between inland and Hong Kong will combine the advantages of both places to enhance Hong Kong commodity's international competitive power.
Russian Premier's Speech on Economy
Xinhua News Agency, Moscow, January 8 - Russian Premier Chernomydin made a speech on 8th in a government meeting that the major achievement made by Russia in 1997 was the fundational premise created for her economic growth.
According to Russian News Agency - TASS, Chernomydin said that as compare with 1996, Russia showed a growth rate of 1.2% in GDP last year, 3.2% in industrial production, 3.9% in aggregate retail commodity, an annual inflation rate of 11% that was half of 1996, and a growth rate of 2.5% for dweller's income.
Chernomydin also pointed out that many problems still existed in the country last year, such as: revenue status not optimistic, investment plan not accomplished, favorable balance in foreign trade reduced, financial measures adopted by government not effective etc.
As for the work of this year, Chernomydin said that a new structure reform and economic grow plan was being drafted for presentation and discussion on February 26 in a government enlarged session.
According to this plan, the growth rate of GDP in Russia next year should be 2%, and the inflation rate should be lowered to 5 - 8%.
Fujiang Will Strongly Promote Economic and Trade Co-operation With Taiwan This Year
Xinhua News Agency, Fuzhou, January 10 (by Journalist Xu Ting) - Fujian provincial government pointed out a few days ago that Fujian will energetically boost the economic and trade co-operation with Taiwan this year, further enhance invitation to Taiwan businessmen, strengthen the relationship with conglomerates and consortiums in Taiwan, push for a group of big Taiwan projects come to invest in Fujian , and also to strongly promote trade and fishing service co-operation with Taiwan.
The relative departments of Fujian province made some new measures the other day to further speed up the foreign economic and trade, and treat deepening reform of foreign economic and trade enterprises, sustaining a steady export growth, keeping on utilization of foreign investment etc as the key lines in this province's foreign economic and trade work in 1998.
Fujian is one of the China's coastal regions where with the quickest development in foreign economic and trade.
Last year, the total import and export volumn in this province was close to 20 billion US dollars, actual utilization of foreign investment exceeded 4 billion US dollars, foreign contracted projects and labour service co-operation amounted 355 million US dollars.
It is known that the main tasks of the new measures are: focus on development of scale management and establish enterprise groups, and based on these, to push forward the strategic re-structuring of the foreign trade companies attached to this province; strengthen the export of pillar industry products; manage well the Foreign Investment Meeting in Hong Kong and 1998 China Investment and Trade Symposium etc.
China Will Continue Her Opening Policy in Finance
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 16 (by Journalist Xu Xintang and Xian Yuhong) - Dai Xianglong, the president of the People's Bank of China, said that China would continue the implementation of opening policy in finance.
In today's press conference for Chinese and foreign journalists, Dai Xianglong stressed that China will not give up the implementation of opening policy in finance because of the financial chaos happened in some Southeast Asia countries.
He said, a group of additional foreign banks and insurance companies opened their affiliated agencies in China last year. By the end of this year, more than 170 foreign-funded financial business agencies were set up in China.
In the future, China will properly increase the affiliated agencies of foreign banks and insurance companies in the country; meanwhile, China is preparing to expand foreign bank's trial operation of Renminbi business.
He also emphasized that more cautious management will be performed on the conditions for foreign financial institution to apply their business in China, qualification of senior personnel, and the legitimacy of their business.
He said, because there is no timetable at all for convertible Renminbi under capital account, the issue of postponement of this procedure due to financial crises in Southeast Asia does not exist.
However, as for the opening of capital account, we will learn the lessons of financial crises in Southeast Asia and take a more cautious attitude.
A U.S. Multi-national Company Will Open 300 Supermarket Chain Stores in Fujian
Xinhua News Agency, Xiamen, January 16 (by Journalist Yu Yinrui) - Two convenient chain stores named "Beatrice" opened for business here today.
It indicates the official operation of Xiamen Franprix Supermarket Co., Ltd, of which a large American multi-national group, Beatrice Company, owns 60% shares of stock.
Xiamen Franprix Supermarket Co., Ltd is the first Sino-foreign joint venture enterprise in retail business in Fujian province. It consists of three parties, Beatrice International Enterprise Group of U.S., Xiamen Foreign Supply General Company China and Phili Global International Company of Philippine.
According to the agreement, the total investment for this project is about 26 million US dollars, of which 10 million US dollars for the first phase, to open 20 model convenient chain stores and a modern distribution center, then open 300 convenient chain stores in nine places of Fujian province in succession based on market expansion.
All these stores will be usually located in the districts with dense population, with a size of about 400 square meters, and handle daily use commodities, staple, and non-staple food etc.
Beatrice International Enterprise Group of U.S. is a large multi-national food company with an annual sales turnover exceeds 2.1 billion US dollars.
The opening of China's retail business is relatively cautious. Up to now, the trial operation was performed successively only in Beijing, Qingdao, Dalian, Guangzhou, Wuhan, and Shanghai etc. The chain store developing plan in China of Beatrice International Enterprise Group of U.S. is a significant step of foreign capital's involvement in China's retail business.
Financial Minister of Cote d'Ivoire Said West Africa's Economic Growth Reverted Remarkably
Xinhua News Agency, Abidjan, January 18 (Journalist Linhu Daocheng) - Cote d'Ivoire economic and financial minister Engolan said here on 17, the economic growth of the entire member countries of Economic and Monetary Union of Western Africa has been reverted remarkably, and their major economic elements show a good condition.
Engolan said on an economic personnel symposium sponsored by France - Cote d'Ivoire Merchant Club, the economic growth rate of the entire member countries of Economic and Monetary Union of Western Africa reverted to 5.9% in 1996, 6.3% in 1997, while in 1994 it was only 2.6%.
He said, in recent years, West African countries have greatly improved the situation of import and export unbalance and public investment, increased the favorable balance of trade significantly; meanwhile, the budget deficit was decreased considerably to only 1.3% of GDP in these countries.
When talking about the impact of Euro system, that to be put into practice by Europe Union, on African Franc, Engolan expressed that it is not necessary to worry about African Franc's future.
He said, because the economy growth of the entire member countries of Economic and Monetary Union of Western Africa has reverted remarkably, the Africa Franc will not devaluate sharply by 50% in a short period of time like that happened in January 1994.
China Insurance Supervision and Management Project Starts in Beijing
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 21 - With the purposes to assist People's Bank of China to perform supervision and management to the insurance laws and regulations made to foreign funded insurance institutions in China, to explore the insurance normalization system and relative measures, a research project was started a few days ago in Beijing.
This project was jointly financed by British Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group and Lincoln National Group of U.S., and undertaken by Coopers & Lybrand Accounting Firm of U.S. with a total investment of 1.4 million US Dollars.
This supervision and management project will do systematically analysis on foreign funded insurance in China and existing insurance supervision and management laws and regulations, use foreign experience for reference, make a constructive research scheme to facilitate the development of China's insurance supervision and management and to perfect the supervision and management laws and regulations.
The insurance supervision and management project started this time will be based on the existing insurance supervision and management laws and regulations of the People's Bank of China on foreign funded insurance institutions, to do a research more thoroughly and dedicate to strengthen the insurance institution structure and operation procedures, particularly for the development of early stage warning system.
It is known that the new supervision and management laws and regulations will perfect the existing supervision and management laws and regulations on foreign funded insurance institutions on China market, and assist the People's Bank of China to strengthen its supervision and management system for the whole insurance market.
Appeals America to Take Constructive Policies toward China
Xinhua News Agency, New York, March 6 (by Journalist Zhou Xisheng) - James Sasser, U.S. Ambassador to China, made a speech on a luncheon held by National Committee On US - China Relations on 6th in New York, appealing America to develop a "consistent, credible, and constructive policy toward China with a strategic point of view" and to solve the differences on some issues with China by frank and comprehensive dialogue.
James Sasser pointed out that U.S. should confront correctly China's development and emergence onto the world stage. Whenever during the end of this century or in the next, America should take advantage of this major foreign policy opportunity to develop a stable and healthy relation with China.
When talking about the issues of human right and protection of intellectual property rights, this ambassador pointed out, China has made considerable progress in these two aspects.
He deemed that the liberties and democracy Chinese people have now are unprecedented in China before. China has also taken an active co-operative attitude in the protection of intellectual property rights. U.S. should not be blind to all of these.
James Sasser added, U.S. Congress should cancel the annual debate on China's MFN position after her accession in WTO and give China permanent MFN treatment.
He pointed out that the annual debate on this issue in U.S. Congress is actually harmful only to America herself. Because it will impact American businessmen's confidence for investment in China and in turn will affect American people's employment opportunities.
China - Japan Trade Shows Steady Growth
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 9 - According to statistics of General Administration of Customs, the trade between China and Japan showed a sustained growth last year, the aggregate import and export value registered at 60.06 billion US dollars, increased by 4.5% than the previous year, and constituted 20.7% of total foreign trade value in China.
In this figure, 30.88 billion in export, and 29.18 billion in import.
The favorable trade balance against Japan was 1.7 billion US dollars.
Japan has been the number one in China's foreign trade partner countries for four years running. Her bilateral trade volume last year was 17.22 billion US dollars higher than that of U.S. - the second trade partner of China.
It was reported that China's export commodities depend more and more by years on Japanese market, while the proportion of imported commodities in total import volume from Japan fluctuates irregularly; different ways of trade show an unbalanced development, general trade decreased, processing trade increased; and primary product trade grew rapidly.
Last year, China exported 8 billion US dollars of primary product with a growth rate of 10.9% than the previous year; import of primary product was one billion US dollars with a grow rate of 4.4%.
The trade between foreign funded enterprises and Japan grew rapidly.
Last year, the export from foreign funded enterprises to Japan valued 14.9 billion US dollars, that was a growth rate of 35.4%, and 48% in China's aggregate export to Japan; while import was 19.5 billion US dollars, that was a growth rate of 14.7%, constituting 67% in China's total import from Japan
Guangxi Builds Traffic and Water Transportation Infrastructure by Foreign Capital of 150 Million US Dollars
Xinhua News Agency, Nanning, March 14 (by Journalist Lu Hankui) - The traffic department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region reveals that up to now, Guangxi has built traffic and water transportation infrastructure by utilization foreign loan of totally 150 million US dollars from World Bank, Asian Bank, Netherland and Korea etc.
In recent years, China has speeded up the construction of major access from great Southwest area to the sea through Guangxi.
In order to solve the problem of insufficient fund, and open wider to the outside world, Guangxi strengthened its introduction and utilization of foreign capitals.
The second phase of Xijiang River Transportation hub, with total investment of over 200 million yuan Renminbi, utilized Word Bank loan of 80 million US dollars. Up to now, its major earthwork has been finished by 80%, and concrete pouring finished by 50%.
The second phase project of Fangcheng Gang port (including the express highway from Qinzhou city to Fangcheng Gang city) utilized Asian Development Bank loan of 52 million US dollars. It is estimated that this express highway will be completed and put into use in the second half of this year.
North Sea port auxiliary facilities construction project utilized Korean government loan of 10 million US dollars.
Qinzhou port auxiliary facilities construction project utilized Netherland government loan of 13 million US dollars.
All these construction projects are smoothly under way.
The Foreign Co-operation of China's Building Material Industry Develops Quickly
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 19 (by Journalist Li Jianmin) - China's building material industry takes the strengthening of foreign co-operation as an important step of accelerating the development of this industry. The fields of utilization of foreign capital have been expanded rapidly. At present, the aggregate foreign capital absorption in this industry is registered at 5 billion US dollars.
When having interview with a journalist today, a chief official of National Building Material Bureau revealed that a great number of cement manufacturing projects in Tongling of Anhui and Xiangxiang of Hunan etc, that were constructed by current utilization of foreign loans from World Bank and Asian Bank in China's building material industry, have been put into production in succession.
The foreign investment scope is developing rapidly towards new building material, new and high technology, and deep processing of building materials etc.
A group of high-grade sanitary pottery technology reconstruction projects, which utilized 100 million US dollars of preferential export credit of Italy, are making active progress in Shanxi, Shandong, Guangdong, Jilin, and Hunan etc.
Recently, China has signed bilateral co-operation agreements with government departments of Netherland, German, Thailand, Greece, Australia, Japan, France, Denmark, and some other multi-national companies. This greatly increased China's foreign co-operation partners.
Last year, China made profit more than 2.1 billion US dollars in foreign currency by exporting building material, of which there was 12 million tons of cement, increased by 46% than the previous year and reached the highest historic record.
In addition to this, China has recently imported pre-decomposing kiln production lines, established some large modern cement manufacturing enterprises in east Hebei, Ningguo, Huaihai, and Liuzhou etc, and increased the annual production capacity of cement by 2.2 million tons more.
Foreign Funded Enterprises Became A Prominent Growth Point in Shandong National Economy
Xinhua News Agency, Jinan, April 2 - Along with the continuous increasing of overall economic benefit, the foreign funded enterprises have become a prominent growth point in Shandong's national economy.
Currently, more than 10,000 foreign funded enterprises have started business in Shandong province. Last year, they reached a sale volume of 122.1 billion yuan, and registered a profit of 5.3 billion yuan.
According to the information of Foreign Economic and Trade Committee of the province, in 1996,the foreign funded enterprises in Shandong made export profit in foreign currency of 5.49 billion US dollars, constituting 51% of total export volume of this province; the actual utilization of foreign investment of this province formed 14.7% of the entire social fixed assets investment; the employees in foreign funded enterprises registered 1.15 million, constituting 10.9% of total employment population in industry of this province.
Thanks to the continuous improving of investment environment and good economic result of foreign funded enterprises, multi-national companies are moving their operation in Shandong from a trial investment stage to the stage of substantial investment.
After two additional investments, Shandong Samsung Electronic Communication Co., Ltd became one of three large manufacturing bases of Korean Samsung group in China.
After five or six successive additional investments, Qingdao Sanmei Electric Motor Co., Ltd, one of the foreign funded enterprises with the largest export volume in Shandong province, has reached an aggregate investment of over 90 million US dollars.
WTO and China Service Trade Seminar Will Be held in Shanghai
Xinhua News Agency, Shanghai, April 14 (by Journalist Xia Ruge and probationer Zhang Jiansong) - "WTO and China Service Trade Seminar" will be held in Shanghai on April 19 and Ruggiero, Director General of WTO, will attend the meeting and make a special speech.
It is known that the themes of this seminar will be: what kind of impact will be exerted on the same trade in our country if China make commitments of opening her service trade industry, such as: finance, insurance, sea and air transportation, consultation, retail business, advertisement, lawyer, accountant etc, in the WTO negotiation, how is the international competitive power of these industries, how to control the opening extent of service trade for Chinese government in the negotiation etc.
In addition, another topic on this seminar is to explore the trial operation of some joint venture companies in foreign trade business in the future.
This two-day seminar will be jointly undertaken by WTO Shanghai Research Center and Shanghai Foreign Service Co., Ltd.
Participants are Long Yongtu, Vice Minister of Ministry of Foreign Economic and Trade of China, who accompanying Ruggiero to Shanghai; And Shen Jueren, former chief negotiation representative of China to GATT and former Vice Minister of Ministry of Foreign Economic and Trade.
Moreover, persons from Foreign Economic and Trade committees of different provinces and municipalities of China, responsible persons of conglomerate companies, specialists, scholars etc, about 200 people in all attended the seminar.
China Build Railway Mobile Communication Network by Utilizing World Bank Loan
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, April 17 (by Journalist Qiantong) - China Ministry of Railways will build a special railway mobile communication network by utilizing World Bank loan for railway projects.
After keen competition, China Instrument International Bidding Company got the bid, and will together with China Electric Import and Export United Company to supply total 220000 line program-controlled exchanger system to Ministry of Railways with a contract amount of about 20 million US dollars.
According to people of Ministry of Railways, this network construction is part of the reconstruction project for nationwide railway hub communication.
The completion and operation of this network will facilitate passengers and consignors from all over China, including Hong Kong and Macao, to check and enquire through the this network for railway operation status, book tickets or cargo space in advance, and trace the delivering and destination stations for cargo etc.
In recent years, China has begun to take advantage of the loans of international finance institutes in the way of international competitive bidding for her infrastructure construction.
This purchase was done in conformity to international customary procedure, and the program-controlled exchanger produced by Shanghai Bell, for which China Electric Import and Export United Company acted as the agent, was finally confirmed of winning the bid.
This was also one of the important orders won by domestic manufactured program-controlled exchanger products in China.
It is known that a signing ceremony attended by all the contract parties was held in Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing yesterday.
All these equipments will be manufactured and installed within this year.
Wuhan Office of Netherland Council for Promotion of Trade Set Up
Xinhua News Agency, Wuhan, April 3 (by Journalist Tang Weibin) - Wuhan representative office of Netherland Council for Promotion of Trade was officially set up in Wuhan a few days ago.
This is the first representative office of Netherland Council for Promotion of Trade set up in China.
It is said that the main task of this office is to make Netherland government and enterprises to know timely Hubei's economic development status, to help Netherland enterprises to confirm the feasibility of trade and investment, to assist the communication and correlation between Netherland enterprises and local enterprises, and government organizations etc, and to provide consulting service etc.
Mr. Hao Deyang, Netherland Ambassador to China, said on the cutting ribbon opening ceremony that they chose Wuhan to set up office was because Wuhan enjoys a very good geographical location with convenient water and land traffic.
Moreover, both Netherland government and industrial circle thinks that Hubei is a very potential area with co-operation possibilities with Netherland in many fields as traffic, infrastructure, agriculture, and energy source etc.
As early in 1980s, Philippe company, a Netherland multi-national company, co-operatively established with Wuhan the first joint venture company - Chang Fei Optical Fiber and Optical Cable Co., Ltd.
Entering the 1990s, the bilateral co-operation has been going deeper.
Not long ago, Netherland Bank Wuhan representative office was also officially established.
Men Qingping, The Vice Governor of Hubei province, says that the setting up of Wuhan representative office of Netherland Council for Promotion of Trade is a sign of the new upper stage of the good relation and economic and trade co-operation between Netherland government, and industrial and commercial circle and Wuhan of Hubei province.
He hopes this co-operative relation will develop continually and make significant achievements.
China Funded Enterprises Became Largest Foreign Investor in Macao
Xinhua News Agency, Macao, April 3 (by Journalist Wang ZhigeníóChe Yuming) - Zhang Xuming, Chairman of Macao Chinese Enterprise Association, said that currently there are more than 200 Chinese funded enterprises in Macao, with an aggregate assets value of over 90 billion Macao currency.
Chinese enterprises have become one of the largest foreign investors in Macao.
A few days ago, Zhang Xuming said on a Five Anniversary Meeting of Macao Chinese Enterprise Association that the inland funded enterprises are getting from small to big, weak to strong, have become an important force in Macao's economic field.
They have made significant contribution to Macao's prosperity and stability.
It was said that these enterprises are widely involved in the business activities in many fields, such as: trade, industry, finance, insurance, tourism, restaurants, traffic and transportation, construction and real estate etc.
Among these industries, Chinese capital constitutes 50% in finance and insurance, 50% - 70% in tourism, 30% in import and export, and 70% in real estate.
Zhang Xuming said, the Chinese funded enterprise in Macao will be continuously based on Deng Xiaoping's conception of "One country, two system" and our country's guidelines and policies to Macao, stick to the principle of "do something and not do something", endeavor together with local people in industrial and commercial circle, make greater contribution to Macao's economic stability and social development.
U.S. Confessed Hundreds of Iraqi Civilians Died in Air Attack, British Reporter Said that Bombed was not Military Target at all
Xinhua News Agency, Washington, February 13 - U.S. White House confessed on 13th that hundreds of Iraqi civilians were killed when multi-nation air force air-attacked Iraq capital Baghdad, but insisted what they hit was a military target.
White House spokesman Fitzwalter said that American government deemed this was "indeed a tragic result."
But he condemned Iraqi President Saddam for keeping civilians in a military facility and making them in a dangerous situation.
He added, U.S. thought that what they hit was a command and control center of Iraqi army.
This facility was "painted and camouflaged to evade reconnaissance, but evidence showed this was a military target."
According to Xinhua News report from London on February 13, Bonne, a reporter of BBC in Iraqi capital Baghdad, confirmed on 13th that no any sign showed the bomb shelter in Baghdad destroyed by American bomber was a military blindage.
Bonne's speech made on BBC TV news rebutted what the American officials claimed that this bomb shelter was a camouflaged military blindage.
Bonne once visited this destroyed bomb shelter on-site and found about 400 civilians died.
France Against UN Charter Amendment
Our journalist, Lv Wangda, reported from Paris on February 14: French foreign minister, Dumas, pointed out that France would not agree the demand to amend UN charter for reallocation of the five permanent member seats in Security Council.
French foreign minister made the above statement yesterday on a French National Parliament Foreign Affair Committee conference.
Foreign minister Dumas thought that United Nation was born after the Second World War; France was the victory country like other permanent members.
Although German and Italy, as defeated ones, have been democratic countries today, is only a review to the history for the past events enough?
Other media reported here that, being today's economic powers, German and Japan always call for reallocation of permanent member seats in UN Security Council.
German foreign minister Cresson made a speech on 11th hoping that a united Germany would play more important role in UN, and to have more right to speak for making decisions in UN.
For this, France foreign minister emphasized that they were "not practical," because the permanent member seats were stipulated by UN Charter. While the amendment to UN Charter must be unanimously agreed by all UN members countries, and France would not agree to do so.
Dedicating Scientific and Technical Achievements to the People, Wang Ma Computer Software "Opens" to the Country
Our journalist, He Huangbiao, reported from Beijing on January 5: Wang Ma Computer Company, a high-tech enterprise located in Zhongguan Cun of Beijing, declared on a news conference in the Great Hall of People on January 4th: in order to meet the urgent need of office automation of different departments of Party, governments, and armies, they decided to "open" its "best collection of Wang Ma software", of possible profit over one million yuan, to the whole country in floppy disks without any encrypt and free of technical charges so that every PC user in the country can copy and use it.
Wang Ma Computer Company was known by a Chinese character-encoding program - "five stroke Chinese input" invented by a famous computer specialist Wang Yongming.
This simple, easy, and high efficient Chinese input method has covered more than 85% computer users all over the country and enjoys a leading position in Chinese input technologies in China.
However, along with the rapid development in computer application, more and more users come to "queue up to book" and want to have a new version of "five stroke Chinese input" and Wang Ma Chinese Character Operation System.
In order to benefit the society, Wang Ma Computer Company resolutely gave up the opportunity of making big profit and dedicated the floppy disks without encrypt to the users for their free use.
The leaders, specialists, and users participated in this conference spoke highly of Wang Ma Computer Company's selfless decision and contribution.
Wenzhou of Zhejiang Province is Urgently Repairing Its Dykes And Dams Damaged by Typhoon No.17 and Flood
Xinhua News Agency, Wenzhou, September 1(by journalist Hu Hongwei and correspondent Xie Yunting) - According to Wenzhou Anti-flood and drought Headquarter, this city is going all out to repair the water conservancy project damaged by typhoon No.17 and flood.
By August 30, this city had input daily labor force of 158,300; the aggregate labor reached 936,500, and completed 730,000 cubic meter earthworks.
The right attack of typhoon No.17 damaged Wenzhou's 862 kilometers of dykes and dams, of which 357.7 kilometers were completely damaged.
Moreover, the big tide of August 3 and August 15 of lunar calendar is approaching, and new typhoon and rainstorm may come at any time. All these result in a very dangerous situation.
Wenzhou people are now urgently mobilized to repair and build dykes and dams to protect their homeland.
991 places of damaged dukes and dams all around the city are now being repaired, large quantity of grass bags, woven bags, and other necessary materials are pouring in from different areas of Zhejiang province.
It is estimated that most of the damaged dykes and dams can be hopefully repaired by earthworks for an emergency purpose before the big tide of August 3 of lunar calendar.
It is known that Wenzhou municipal government has made an arrangement for repairing and construction of dykes and dams on a larger scale during this winter and next spring.
Ding Hao Became The First Handicapped University Student Who Grew Up in Chinese Orphanage
Xinhua News Agency, Hangzhou, September 1 (by Journalist Zhu Guoxian, probationer Guan Zhehui) - Ding Hao, a handicapped student, being an orphan from his childhood and grew up in Hangzhou Children Welfare Institute, received an enrollment notice a few days ago from Hangzhou University and became a student of philosophy and social science major of this university.
It is known that Ding Hao, 19 years old in this year, is the first handicapped university student in new China who was adopted by and grew up in Welfare Institute.
"Upon receipt of the notice, I really want to jump with joy", Ding Hao said, but he is not able to express his excitement by "jumping".
A very bad high fever when he was only three made him suffered from the severe sequelae of poliomyelitis. In this year, he was adopted by the Welfare Institute.
Ding Hao finished his primary school in Welfare Institute and then entered a nearby junior high school in the village.
At the beginning, he was under the escort of the teachers of Welfare Institute to and from the school. After grade two he lived at school and was back to Welfare Institute on every Saturday, he was never absent in class regardless of the whether.
This year, he attended the university entrance exam and was enrolled by Hangzhou University with eligible marks.
Ding Hao's success is the concentration of efforts from all circles of society.
The Children Welfare Institute has loved and taken care of him constantly for sixteen years. Only in last year, the Institute spent more than 3,000 yuan for his tuition fee, study materials, and nourishment.
Different circles of the society also give him their hands.
Knowing his enrollment in university, Hangzhou Longchang Foodstuff and Oil Trading Company donated 20,000 yuan to assist his study; while the Artificial Limb Factory and other companies gave him the wheel chair, and stick etc.
Students Back to High and Elementary Schools in Disaster Area of Zhejiang Province
Xinhua News Agency, Hangzhou, September 2 (by Journalist Shen Haixiong and Shen Xiquan) - The educational circle in Zhejiang disaster area suffered a lot because of typhoon No.17. 1,500 schools had their premises, and facilities damaged.
With the government and people's great effort of fighting against calamity and regeneration through their own endeavor, most high and elementary schools in disaster areas have now reverted to normal classes.
Recently, the educational departments of Zhejiang province have sent working groups to Wenzhou and Taizhou etc to guide the restoring work of education in disaster areas.
The education committee of Wenzhou city mobilized more than 20 office cadres, who were divided into 7 groups, to Leqing, Ouhai, Dongtou, and Pingyang etc to assist the repairing of school and preparation for class, and also squeezed out 200,000 yuan from the educational funds for the special purpose of education and disaster relief.
In order to ensure that students could go to school in time, the educational services in counties, cities, and regions of disaster area reduced the tuition fee or afforded some subsidies to those students whose families were suffered from economic difficulties due to this disaster.
The school leaders and staffs in disaster areas went to work voluntarily ahead of schedule, earnestly cleaned the campus environment and put everything in order, took health measures and did disinfections, and repaired the damaged premises.
Educational committee and Communist Youth league committee of Wenzhou combined with teachers and students in disaster areas and launched a donation campaign of "Dedicate Your Love to Stricken School". Up to now, over one million yuan donation has been received from all walks of life.
Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina Hope to Negotiate on New Peace Scheme
Xinhua News Agency, Belgrade, August 31(by Journalist Wang Sen) - Krajisnik, Parliament Chairman of "Republic of Serb" in Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasized on August 31 when talking to a newspaper "Voice of Serb" that after the liaison group's Bosnia and Herzegovina territory division proposal was rejected by public voting of whole people, the Serb leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina "can only negotiate on a new territory division proposal, i.e. new peace Scheme of Bosnia and Herzegovina."
According to the announcement, in the whole people public voting on August 27 and 28 in Serb of Bosnia and Herzegovina, more than 90% people voting against the international liaison group's Bosnia and Herzegovina territory division proposal.
Krajisnik explained more in his talk:" We refused to accept the territory division proposal that is only to refuse part of the peace scheme of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
But the whole people public voting rejected the territory division proposal, that means the termination of all the peace scheme."
When talking about the relation between Serb of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Yugoslavia, Krajisnik said: "The policy of western countries is to split Serbs, they have been waiting for this day for a long time," while "our purpose is to make all Serbs unite."
When talking to French News Agency on the same day, Buhatom, foreign minister of "Republic of Serb" in Bosnia and Herzegovina also expressed: "after the whole people public voting, Serb hopes that the international liaison group would raise new proposals to break the ice."
Chi Haotian Held Talks with Official from Ministry of Defense of Tanzania
Xinhua News Agency, Dar Es Salaam, August 30(by Journalist Pei Shanqin) - Chi Haotian, China State Councilor and Minister of Defense and Kynana, Minister of Tanzania Ministry of Defense & National Service, held talks here today on the strengthening of co-operation between two countries and two armies, and reached agreement on above issues.
Both parties expressed their satisfaction to the friendly co-operation of over 30 years between two armies.
Chi Haotian said, since the establishment of foreign relations, China and Tanzania has kept good relationship for more than 30 years. The fruitful co-operation between two countries has covered many fields like politics, economy, military, and culture etc.
Kynana said, what we feel pleasant is, the friendly co-operative relationship, founded by old generation leaders of two countries as Nyerere, Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, has not only been carried on but with new development as well.
Kynana expressed his thanks for substantial assistance offered by China to Tanzania in the past years.
Both parties agreed unanimously to, based on an equal and mutual benefit, further develop the co-operation between two countries and two armies in all fields and raise the friendly co-operation between two countries to a new level.
Before the meeting, Kynana managed a grand military parade ceremony to welcome Chi Haotian and his retinue.
Chi Haotian and his retinue arrived here by air on 29th for a six-day friendly visit to Tanzania on Kynana's invitation.
The Irish Republican Army Announced Cease Fire
Xinhua News Agency, London, August 31(by journalist Li Wenhao) - The Irish Republican Army announced today that from midnight today, this organization would stop thoroughly all military actions and effect "unconditional and no time limitation" cease fire.
The Irish Republican Army mentioned in its statement to British and Irish news media that, taking current situation into consideration and for promotion of the North Ireland peace progress, this organization made the above decision and notified all its attached units for it.
The statement requested British government to envisage the responsibilities she would take, urge all the parties concerned to face, with firmness and patience, the new situation that might result from this cease-fire, hold an extensive negotiation attended by British and Irish government and all the major political parties in Ireland, and finally to solve the conflict in North Ireland.
The statement said that the cease-fire declared by the Irish Republican Army provided an opportunity of "Equitable and Permanent Solution" for North Ireland issue.
However, the Irish Republican Army reiterated that it would still abide by its "Republican Target," i.e. the unification of the whole Irish island.
In order to realize the unification of North Ireland and republic of Ireland, the Irish Republican Army has taken violent actions in North Ireland for as long as 25 years.
Dinosaur Bone Fossil Found in Henan Xixia
Xinhua News Agency, Zhengzhou, April 23 (by Journalist Liu Yamin) - Recently, some interested specialists and scholars have found plenty of dinosaur bone fossil in Yancheng town, Xixia county of Henan province.
This was another significant discovery followed the findings of rich precious dinosaur egg fossils in this same place last year.
The journalist knew from the Cultural Relic Archaeology Research Institute of Henan Province, at the beginning of April this year, the relevant specialists found several hundred pieces of dinosaur bone fossils, some were rib and phalange etc, between two river gravel layers in places of Hutoushan mountain, Yancheng town of Xixia county.
Because of their long time exposure on the ground surface, some of them were broken.
From the stratigraphy point of view, all of them belong to the Cretaceous Period.
According to specialist's judgment, there could be a great number of dinosaur bone fossils and fossils of other species in this dinosaur fossil concentrated area.
They thought, if the finding of plenty precious dinosaur egg fossils in Xixia basin is a rare case in the world, the discovery of both egg fossils and bone fossils in the same place will be much more scarce.
This has a very important significance for studies of classification of dinosaur in Xixia area, probe of the dinosaur ecological habit and propagation behavior, restoration of ecological environment of dinosaur times, revelation of the rules of the earth's crust transition and earth environment evolution etc.
And the finding of dinosaur bone fossils will provide important clues for searching the geographical location and burying rules of the dinosaur fossils.
China Will Speed Up the Construction of Personnel Market System
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 1 - Organization department of Central Committee of CPC and Ministry of Personnel issued a notice a few days ago, demanding to strengthen the construction planning of personnel market, speed up the development of personnel market and promote its health development.
The notice pointed out a general target of cultivation and development of personnel market: to realize personal free choice of jobs and unit's free selection of personnel, demand and supply of personnel to be regulated by the market, a perfect social service, a sound social security, the market will play a fundamental role in personnel resources allocation under the macro-regulation and control of the country.
The near term target of cultivation and development of personnel market includes: make fundamental policies, laws and regulations for personnel market operation within recent two or three years, widely establish personnel market places in medium and big cities, set up and develop regional personnel information networks, assist development of special personnel markets, and found regional personnel markets.
Before year 2000, a nationwide personnel market system will be established primarily with perfect functioning, sound mechanism, full laws and regulations, timely guidance, and thoughtful service.
Organization department of Central Committee and Ministry of Personnel asked the organization and personnel departments of all levels to intensify the construction and management, study and planning of personnel market, establish a overall arrangement and practical measures for this market, adjust measures to local conditions, give guidance according to different requirements, and to found gradually a perfect personnel market system.
China Became A Big Feather and Eiderdown Manufacturing And Export Country
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 1 (by Journalist Zhou Liang) - China's feather and eiderdown and its product industry has been developed very quickly since more than ten years and now become an important part of her light industry. Both annual export quantity and export value of China's feather and eiderdown constitutes half of the world total feather and eiderdown trade figure. China's feather and eiderdown enjoys a high reputation on the international market.
The rapid development of China's feather and eiderdown and its product industry started during mid 1980s. The whole industry utilized China's resources and manpower advantage, and paid more attention to introduce advanced technology and equipments from abroad so both the quality and quantity was improved significantly.
According to incomplete statistics, China has presently more than 3,000 feather and eiderdown and its product enterprises, of which over 600 are big ones, with employees of about 300,000, annual feather and eiderdown product manufacturing capacity of more than 50 million pieces, and total annual industrial output of 8 billion yuan.
After over 10 year's market developing, China has now become one of the major countries of feather and eiderdown manufacturing and feather and eiderdown product exporting in the world, with annual feather and eiderdown export of 30,000 tons and feather and eiderdown product of more than 20 million pieces, gained foreign currency of 820 million US dollars, of which the export volume of feather and eiderdown garment constitutes over 50% of the whole industry's export volume.
It was reported that the quality of China's feather and eiderdown products shows a stable upward tendency.
In the first half of this year, relative department of the country sampled and inspected the products of 56 feather and eiderdown garment enterprises. The products of 47 enterprises were qualified that constituted 84% of those inspected.
In the market competition, Jiangxi' Ya Ya brand, Beijing's Yi Li Lan brand, Guangdong's Ge Lan Shi brand and Sichuan's Tian Ge brand etc gained high reputation.
Maclaren Held Talks With Zou Jiahua
Xinhua News Agency, Toronto, April 22 - When meeting with visiting Vice Premier Zou Jiahua of State Council of China on 22th in Toronto, Maclaren, Minister of International Trade of Canada, expressed his deep impression about China's rapid economical development. He just returned from a visiting to China.
He was sure that Canada and China could be very good co-operation partners.
Maclaren also reiterated his support to the restoration of China's contracting party position in GATT and original member-state in WTO.
Zou Jiahua said, during these several days in Canada he experienced by himself that Canadian government and personages in all circles have a strong desire of strengthening the co-operation with China, the conditions of accelerating the development of bilateral relations are ready and the timing is very good.
Maclaren and Zou Jiahua also discussed the prospect of trade, science, and technology co-operation between China and Canada.
Both parties agreed that although in recent years there has been bigger development in economic and trade relation between China and Canada, it is far from enough as compare with two nation's actual needs and existing potential.
Great potential still exists in extensive co-operation between two countries in many fields, such as: energy source, traffic, water and electricity, communication, and other infrastructures etc.
Both parties exchanged views on special issues and were in comprehensive agreement.
After the meeting, Maclaren hosted a banquet in honor of Zou Jiahua and his retinue.
All the Parties of Cambodia Agreed to National Conciliation Round Table Meeting
Xinhua New Agency, Phnom Penh, April 23(by Journalists Xin Heping and Cai Ximei) - The local people revealed today that all the parties in Cambodia agreed to attend a round table meeting on peace and national conciliation of Cambodia according to King Sihanouk's proposal.
This morning, Norodom Ranariddh, the first Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and Hun Sen, the second Prime Minister, met with Benny Widyono in Premier mansion. The latter is UN Secretary-general's representative in Cambodia and just took his office.
After the interview, Widyono and Premier office spokesmen said to journalists that, Chea Sim, Chairman of Cambodia People's Party and President of National Assembly; Ranariddh, Chairman of Funcinpec Party and the first Prime Minister of the Kingdom government; Hun Sen, the second Prime Minister and Khieu Samphan, Chairman of Democratic Cambodia, unanimously expressed their consent of attending the round table meeting scheduled in Phnom Penh from May 2 to May 7.
Sihanouk put forward this proposal in a statement published yesterday.
It is reported that during the meeting both parties discussed on the issues of Cambodia's politics, economy, and security etc.
Two Prime Ministers of Cambodia asked UN secretary-general to extend the duration of his representative in Cambodia to six months or longer.
Widyono expressed that he will convey this opinion to UN secretary-general.
"Five-character Stone of the Divine Land" - Rain Flower Pebble Unveiled
Xinhua News Agency, Nanjing, September 1 (by Journalist Yuan Yanghe) - Professor Liu Yuyi, a famous artist known by his famed oil painting "Beautiful Evening", that was an eclat in art circle, unveiled a rain flower pebble  - "Five-character Stone of the Divine Land" found by him in Nanjing a few days ago.
The shape and size of this rain flower pebble is very much like a folk mascot, longevity lock.
In the middle of this stone, there is a very clear territory picture of the People's Republic of China.
This picture is with both ends highly rose, middle part lowered, the right lower part protruded, and looks like a rooster with a plump chest and holds up its head crowing; under the belly of the "rooster", separated by a" strait", is a long and narrow shaped "Taiwan Island"; under the feet of the "rooster" there is a round-shaped "Hainan Island".
The color and luster of these two "islands" is completely same as that of the "Mainland".
The whole picture is exactly like map of China.
Professor Liu Yuyi said, he picked up this rain flower pebble five years ago on a road of rain flower stone processing yard located in Nanjing suburb area. He looked at it carefully after got home and found a "Chinese territory" on it.
At the same time, he found that on the "territory of mainland", along the borderline from Northeast, North to Northwest, enwinds a huge dragon with a bright pearl in its mouth; on the upper part of this huge dragon, there is a golden yellow facula like a shoe-shaped gold ingot; and in the middle of the "territory of mainland", there is a stripe similar to a series of torches, which symbolizes the everlasting life fire of Chinese nation; moreover, the shape of this stone is like a longevity lock, there are totally five unique characters.
Therefore, Liu Yuyi named this stone as "Five-character Stone of the Divine Land".
China, Thailand, Viet Nam, Burma, Laos and Cambodia Will Strengthen Sub-regional Economic Co-operation
Xinhua News Agency, Hanoi, April 23 (by journalist Hu Suojin) - China, Thailand, Viet Nam, Burma, Laos, and Cambodia will strengthen their co-operation in traffic, energy, trade and investment, environmental protection, tourism, and human resources development etc.
This is the common understanding reached by representatives of above six countries in the Third Sub-regional Economic Co-operation Meeting of Asian Bank that was closed today.
In this meeting, the traffic was confirmed as one of the important items in sub-regional co-operation.
Two highways from Kunming to Chiang Rai of Thailand, and to Lashio of Burma, and two railways from Yunnan to Viet Nam and to Thailand were confirmed as the primary items to be developed.
This meeting was organized by Viet Nam government and Asian Bank.
Participating the meeting were government delegation of above six countries and representatives of some international organizations and institutes.
It was Asian Bank in 1992 that firstly proposed to start multi-aspect economical co-operation in a sub-region consists of China (Yunnan province), Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand, and Viet Nam, and confirmed a group of co-operative developing items with regional significance.
The first and second Asian Bank Sub-regional Economic Co-operation Meetings were held in Manila in October of 1992 and August of 1993 respectively.
World Bank Decided to Provide 250 Million US Dollar Assistance Contribution to Palestine
Xinhua News Agency, Jerusalem, August 31(by Journalist Huai Chengbo) - According to the speech of Savil quoted by "Jerusalem Post", who is Chief of Israel Ministry of Foreign Affair office, that World Bank decided to provide 250 million US dollar assistance contribution to the leadership of Palestine Autonomy before the end of 1994.
This decision broke the stalemate, which has been lasted for nearly one year, between assistance countries and the leadership of Palestine Autonomy.
In the International Meeting of Assistance to Palestine Autonomy held in Washington on October 1 last year, the assistance countries guaranteed to provide 2.4 billion US dollars of development assistance contribution within five years, of which appropriation of 750 million US dollars in the first year.
But the assistance countries declared that they refused to fulfill this commitment completely because Palestine Autonomy had no necessary system and account titles to handle the assistance funds.
Savil said although America and World Bank were not fully satisfied with Palestine's accounting work at present, they agreed to effect part of the payment as soon as possible.
Arafat, Chairman of PLO executive board, and other Palestinian leaders always criticized the assistance countries, as they did not fulfill the commitment of performing appropriation.
It was anticipated that PLO chief negotiation representative Sars and Israel chief negotiation representative Rose Zield would go to Washington to hold discussion with America and World Bank specifically on fulfillment of assistance contributions.
China and U.S. Signed High-tech Co-operation Agreement in Shanghai
Xinhua News Agency, Shanghai, August 31,(by Journalists Bai Guoliang and Xia Ruge) - "The Signing Ceremony of China and U.S. High-tech Co-operation Agreement" was performed in Shanghai today.
The projects signed this morning were Network Communication Technology for Knowledge Information and DNA Biotechnology, the Language Education and Exchange Co-operation Agreement was also signed.
These three projects were signed respectively between Shanghai Branch of International Technological Economy Research Institute of State Council Development Research Centre, Shanghai Pudong Continual Education Centre, and Knowledge Information Network Company of U.S., World Learning Organization and Hisaike Company.
CE Minnat, Chairman of Knowledge Information Network Company, said on the signing ceremony that, the signing of China and U.S. high-tech projects has very important significance.
He also expected to set up an electronic information express highway between U.S. and China, to effect the deal and information exchange between New York Stock Exchange and Shanghai Securities Exchange.
Judy Meiruo, Chairman of the board of World Learning Organization hoped to establish a joint venture educational institute in Shanghai during the end of this year.
According to people of U.S. side, the visiting American Commercial Minister Brown showed his concern and support to three projects signed this morning.
Fei Xiaotong Was Awarded Magsaysay Prize
Xinhua News Agency, Manila, August 31 (by Journalist Xiong Changyi) - Doctor Fei Xiaotong, famous Chinese sociologist and Vice Chairman of Standing Committee of National People's Congress, was awarded here this afternoon of Magsaysay "Community Leader" Prize of 1994.
The awarding ceremony was performed solemnly in Philippine Cultural Center.
Philippine President Ramos participated the ceremony and awarded medals, bonus, and certificate of merit to six eminent personages who gloriously won the Magsaysay Prize this year.
Fei Xiaotong made a speech of expressing his thanks: "I will never disappoint the encouragement from our friend neighboring country. Whenever how long I can live, I must take full advantage of every minute to do something cautiously and conscientiously to benefit Asian people and even world people, to bring the accumulated knowledge of human being into play of pushing the social developing towards a more beautiful tomorrow."
The Ramon Magsaysay Prize named after former Philippine President was known as the Nobel Prize in Asia.
This Prize consists of five items, one time each in a year, to be awarded respectively to individuals and organizations who has made outstanding contributions in the fields of government service, public service, community leader, news, culture and creative communication art and international understanding etc.
Since its start in 1958, totally 172 individuals and 14 organizations have been awarded of this prize.
Jiang Zemin Emphasized on Militia Reserve Duty
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 1(by Journalist Gai Yumin) - Today, in Zhongnanhai, when meeting with representatives attended the National Conference of Part Regional Militia and Reserve Duty Work, Jiang Zemin, General Secretary of CPC Central Committee, Chairman of the State, President of Central Military Commission, emphasized that the provincial Party Committees, governments, and military departments of all levels should have the work of whole Party and whole country, and our country's long period of order and stability in mind, and pay more attention to the work of militia and reserve duty.
Jiang Zemin pointed out that the militia is both soldier and common people, it is not only an important force for safeguarding of national security and maintaining national integrity, and an important force of keeping social stability, promoting the construction of two civilizations as well.
The provincial Party Committees, governments, and military departments of all levels should fully mobilize the enthusiasm and creativity of numerous militiamen and reserve duty officers and soldiers to make contribution for deepening reform, promoting development, and maintaining stability.
All army units should guarantee a reliable security for reform, development, and stability; take an active part in the local economic construction, and work hard to promote the joint prosperity of all nations.
They should strengthen unite between army and government, army and people, to share the same fate and breathe the same air, and to be heart to heart with the people of all nations.
Vice president of Central Military Commission, Liu Huaqing, members of Military Commission, Zhang Wannian, Yu Yongbo, Fu Quanyou and other leaders of three headquarters of Liberation Army and Military Commission office attended the meeting.
France Considering Troops Withdrawal from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Xinhua News Agency, Paris, September 1 (by journalist Zhang Youhao) - Leotard, French National Defense minister, said on September 1 that France is considering a plan to withdraw troops from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Leotard made the speech in Paris when he talking to a broadcast station journalist.
He pointed out that America's proposal of lifting the ban of weapon embargo to Bosnia and Herzegovina means "international aid could be ended" and "serious public conflict could break out again", and all those would lead to "a serious aftermath of great loss."
Leotard said, "Without the security guarantee to UN peace keeping force, we can not accept the lifting of weapon embargo to Bosnia and Herzegovina."
French Foreign Minister Jubei expressed last week that, the lifting of weapon embargo was "preconditioned with France's withdraw of her Blue Helmet troops and withdrawal of all UN peace keeping force."
Since the conflict outbreak in Bosnia and Herzegovina in February 1992, France has kept about 4,000 troops in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
France was one of the western countries who sent most Blue Helmet troops to this region.
American President Clinton declared on August 10 that, if the Five-state Peace Scheme was not accepted by Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina by October 15, he would appeal the Security Council to approbate a resolution of lifting the ban of weapon embargo to Bosnia and Herzegovina; if the Security Council was not able to approbate a resolution like this, he would seek to lifting the ban of weapon embargo to Bosnia and Herzegovina unilaterally by U.S.
China and Kirgizstan Signed 6 Documents
Xinhua News Agency, Bishkek, April 23 (by Journalists Ju Menjun and Hu Xiaoguang) - Six documents were signed here today by the responsible persons from China and Kirgizstan.
Premier Li Peng and Kirgizstan President Akayev attended the signing ceremony.
These six documents are: agreement of China's loan to Kirgizstan government, agreement of establishment of a economy and trade combined committee between China and Kirgizstan government, the exchange document of China's donation to Kirgizstan, agreement of cultural co-operation between China and Kirgizstan, exchange of consulate protocol of ratification, and co-operation agreement between CCPIT and Kirgizstan Industrial and Commercial Association.
After the signing ceremony, President Akayev and President Li Peng answered questions of journalists respectively.
Akayev spoke highly the meeting results with Premier Li Peng.
He expressed that Premier Li Peng's visit will promote peace, security and stability in middle Asia region.
He understood that the documents just signed would be very important to strengthening of good neighboring relations and friendly co-operation between two countries.
Premier Li Peng said that this visit promoted the friendship and mutual understanding between both parties and laid a good foundation for further co-operation between China and Kirgizstan.
He hoped that middle Asian region's situation would be stable, economy developed and people's living standard would be improved.
Li Peng hoped that news media of Kirgizstan would convey Chinese people's regards to Kirgizstan people.
U.S. Open Tennis Entered Third Day
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 1, dispatches from foreign news agency - U.S. Open Tennis entered the third day on August 31. Last Champion Sampras, recovered from his left ankle joint injury that lasted for more than one month, attended the game and defeated his opponent easily by 3:0 and entered the second round of men's single.
American player Sampras, the present No.1 in world tennis ranking, has not showed him off on the play ground since mid July. This time he came back after recovery from his ankle injury with a very good condition, and defeated a South African player easily with the same score of 6:2 of three sets in less than half an hour, and entered the second round.
No.8 seed, Ukrainian player A. Meideweidef won 6:3, 6:4, 6:0 against his rival and entered the second round.
He just took this as a gift to celebrate his 20 years birthday.
In women's game, No. 2 seed, Sanches from Spain encountered the challenge of his opponent, N.Tauziat from France. But Sanches won the game finally by 6:2 and 7:6.
No.5 seed, Date Kimiko from Japan, No.9 seed, M.Fielnandes from America, and the Champion of 1990, Sawatini from Argentina etc got smoothly into the third round.
In addition, according to latest news, American player Michael Chang defeated his opponent in the second round of man's single by 4:6, 6:2, 6:3, 7:6 and entered the third round.
World Swimming Tournament Lan Wei and Chen Sheng Qualified for One Meter Semi-final
Xinhua News Agency, Rome, September 1,(by Yang Aiguo and Huang Changrui) - The 1 meter spring-board preliminary trials of the 7th World Swimming Tournament was held here this morning.
Both Chinese players, Lan Wei and Chen Sheng, were qualified for 1 Meter Semi-final.
In the preliminary trials, Lan Wei of 26 came from Guangdong, showed his good skill, and won a leading position with total marks of 355.35.
Chen Sheng of 19 came from Hubei occupied temporally the sixth place with total marks of 342.60.
The second placed player is B.Lizo from Germany. His points is 355.02, a little lower than Lan Wei's.
The third one is a Zimbabwe athlete called S.Awan with a result of 354.39 points.
After the trial, Xu Yiming, the general coach of Chinese Diving team, said to our reporter: " Chen Sheng was a little nerves today."
He added: " Our athletes do not adapt themselves very well for the games in strong sunshine.
They had more in-door training in China.
It seems that more out-door training should be done."
He thinks that many Chinese players who take part in this game are new one.
They need more experience for international games.
The preliminary trials of Women's 10-meter platform will be held this afternoon.
Hubei player Fu MingXia of our country, who once got World Tournament Championship and Olympic Game Championship, And Hebei player Chi Bin, who won World Cup Championship, will join this game.
Tang Jiaxuan, the visiting Chinese Foreign Minister in U.S., made a speech on U.S. China relations in a press conference jointly held with Albright, U.S. Secretary of State, in Washington on 29.
Tang Jiaxuan also mentioned that the pink news of President Clinton is an internal affair of U.S., Chinese people will never forget the contribution made by President Clinton to promote China - U.S. friendship.
Below is an interview report on the press conference on the same day from VOA correspondent Zhou Youkang
Dear audience, U.S. President Clinton received Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan at 11:30 on 29th morning in White House, the latter is paying an official visit to Washington.
In a press conference jointly held at noontime on 29th by the State Council and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, U.S. Secretary of State Albright announced the news of meeting between President Clinton and Tang Jiaxuan,
Albright said:
Secretary of State Albright said, I am very happy to tell you that Foreign Minister Tang had a meeting with President Clinton just a moment ago, and he declared that China decided to sign the International Convention of Citizen Right and Political Right on October 5 in New York.
Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan also expressed in the press conference that it was meaningful to have a meeting with Clinton:"
His Excellency, President Clinton received me and I think our meet was effective.
At present, President Clinton is in an eventful period, many people inside and outside of America expressed their strong dissatisfaction and criticisms because of his pink news.
Somebody proposes to impeach him, others want him to resign automatically, and some congressmen of Democratic Party even want to make clear distinction with him.
However, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan did not evade this and spoke highly and praised President Clinton's contribution of promoting China - U.S. relations.
Just in this press conference, a reporter asked Tang Jiaxuan if the pink news of President Clinton would affect the relations between China and U.S.
Tang Jiaxuan said: "
I think this issue is completely America's internal affair.
I have never thought that this will affect development of relations with China.
President Clinton himself has made important and valuable contribution to the relations between China and U.S., we will never forget the contribution he has made.
From me and for China, I'd like to expect sincerely that China and U.S. relations will go forward substantially and steadily based on three Joint Communiqu¿ªs of two countries and the Joint Statement of the leaders of our two countries this time.
Chinese authority indicates time and again that Taiwan is one of China's provinces. Taiwan question is China's internal affair.
In his attendance to UN assembly and in several public occasions during his visit to Washington, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan mentioned Taiwan question many times.
Just in this press conference, one correspondence asked Tang Jiaxuan what is the biggest obstacle in the strategic partnership relations between China and U.S. Tang Jiaxuan answered:"
I think we have repeated this for several times, the most important thing in this regard is to handle Taiwan question appropriately.
Because Taiwan question is both the most sensible and most practical one as well in China U.S. relations."
Several million people all over Russia held a demonstration against President Yeltsin on Wednesday, and asking for their salaries the government failed to pay up.
However, the people actually joined the demonstration were much less than 40 million anticipated by the organizer.
A small crowd of demonstrators gathered outside of Kremlin Palace of Moscow, many of them waved Communist Party's flag.
The potential next president Lebed made a speech to the gathering crowd in a Siberia city, Klasnoyalsk.
He indicated that the investors of Russia and western countries were losing their patience for a real economic reform.
Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu appointed Shalom, the number one hardhanded person in Israeli government, as Foreign Minister.
This appointment was made just before a summit meeting on a temporally peace agreement in U.S. between Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
This agreement stipulated that Israel would hand more west bank land of Jordan River over to Palestinian.
Shalom insisted on building of Jewish settlement on the west bank of Jordan River and opposed to make compromise on army withdrawal.
Afghan Taliban army returned another three dead bodies of Iranian foreign affair personnel, whom were killed by Taliban, to Iran on Sunday. This was an act Taliban tried to relax the strained relations with Iran.
At present, Iran built up more than 200,000 troops on the Afghan border.
These three dead bodies were air shipped to Iranian city Mashhad. Last month, six dead Iranians, whom were killed in Mazare Sharif, were shipped there.
Taliban ordered on Sunday to release another ten Iranians who were captured at the beginning of August when Mazare Sharif was changed hands.
The British Supreme Court resumed hearing on Thursday to decide whether the former Chilean dictator Pinochet could be delivered to Spain to receive an accusation against him for his anti-humanism crime.
On Wednesday, five procurators of British House of Lord began to hold a hearing on the appeal for the adjudication made by a lower court.
This lower court thought that the retired Pinochet had diplomatic immunities. But the procurators considered that the diplomatic immunity was not applicable to genocide, maltreatment, and terrorism.
It was estimated that the hearing would last two days.
Sacasa, Nicaragua Ambassador to U.S. appealed creditor nations to reduce and exempt the debt of Middle American countries, and to provide a great deal of reconstruction assistance to these countries for them to recover from the loss caused by hurricane Miki.
Sacasa expressed to American TV station that it would need about one billion US dollars to rebuild Nicaragua. He urged America and other creditor nations to make an integral economic assistance scheme, something like Marshall plan that helped Western Europe's reconstruction after the Second World War.
In Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, the representatives attending UN Global Climate Meeting continued their work.
Meanwhile, the State Department of America is debating if they would approve the protocol reached in Tokyo meeting last year.
VOA correspondent Fleikos said in his another report from Buenos Aires that, several American State Department senators brought this dispute to the meeting hall in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
Please listen to the detailed report now by Ma Kaiyue.
Democratic Party senators Lygoman and klee of American State Department made a statement on Tuesday in Buenos Aires to urge Clinton government to approve the protocol reached in Tokyo meeting within this week.
Both senators indicated that this would make American representatives more convincing for developing countries to make commitment easily for reducing the emission of warm house effect waste gas.
This was in fact a necessary condition in several proposals put forward before by senate.
However, some U.S. House Representatives in Buenos Aires said they had an objection to any similar action of Clinton government like this.
Sensenbluna, Republican Party House Representative from Wisconsin and Chairman of Science Team Committee of House of Representative, said that there was a fatal defect in Kyoto Protocol that would be surely denied by U.S. Senate and the State Department.
He said:"
Just like the protocol was laid aside at present. It was already dead when presented to the Senate. U.S. Senate and the State Department would not approve it.
The question is what we can do now.
Try to remedy, or just declare the fatal defect of this protocol? We shall discuss again."
House Representative Sensenbluna added: "This is not a party dispute between two parties in House of Representative and Senate of the Capital Hill."
Democratic Party House representative Clinck from Pennsylvania said that he opposed this protocol because it would cut down job opportunities, and like he mentioned, the reduction of the industrialization degree of U.S..
However, Kuchenki, Democratic Party House representative from Ohio, disagreed Sensenbluna's point of view, and did a comparison between fighting against the global warming and striving for world peace.
He said that the same determination would make Tokyo Protocol win.
He said:
House Representative Kuchenki said:" I hope that this progress will go on. At the same time, we should not ignore the necessity of reaching a global resolution because of a certain senator's temporary persistence, no matter with or without participating of U.S. State Department."
In the main meeting hall in Buenos Aires, representatives are discussing all kinds of issues; some of them certainly will be remained for 160 ministers of energy and environment from participating countries on Wednesday's meeting.
The representatives from U.S. said, in spite of the fact that some issues concerned by U.S. State Department might be postponed to next annual meeting for solution, this meeting has got some progress.
Six Arabic countries in gulf region, Syria and Egypt jointly appealed Iraq to observe the UN resolution of weapon checking to avoid so called conflict that might harm Iraqi common people.
White House expressed its welcome to this statement and treated it as another evidence of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's isolation in the world, but most Iraqi people seemed do not care about the bombing led by U.S.
The London headquartered human right organization "Tibet Information Network" announced that one of the most respectful religion leaders, Agya Rinpoche, had escaped to U.S. to protest China's policy towards Tibet.
"Tibet Information Network" said, Agya Rinpoche seemed angry to China's attempt of temple reformation in troublous Tibet area and refused to accept the reincarnation of Panchen Lama who was appointed by Dalai Lama.
But "Tibet Information Network" said, it was not sure now if Agya Rinpoche would seek asylum in U.S.
A U.S. arms control delegation, that is going to Beijing to discuss China's joining Missile Technology Control Agreement as early as possible, thinks that China is possibly still exporting her missile technology to other countries.
Now, please listen to the integral report of VOA correspondent Fang Yuan.
A team of American officials headed by Holem, U.S. acting under Secretary of State, of American Department of State, held negotiation on China's joining of Missile Technology Control Agreement with Chinese Foreign Minister, Tang Jiaxuan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of Chinese army, Xion Guangkai, and other Chinese arms control specialists. This negotiation lasted for one and half a day.
The negotiation focused on how to realize Chinese President Jiang Zemin's expression made during President Clinton's visit to China in June this year.
At that time, Jiang Zemin indicated that China would consider joining Missile Technology Control Agreement, and this was viewed as one of the major fruits of U.S. China summit meeting.
A member of U.S. delegation denoted to Associated Press, that American side doubts if China still exports missile components and parts or missile technologies at present, while Pakistan and Iran are two beneficiary countries of China's exporting missile technologies.
This official said U.S. side would keep on raising this issue to China and, he believed that China was also taking measures to solve these questions.
China's exporting of missile technology is always an issue of friction between U.S. and China relations.
Since the nuclear tests performed by India and Pakistan, two old enemies on South Asia subcontinent, in succession during the first half of this year, U.S. has been particularly felt that it is necessary for China to make commitment on controlling of missile technical transfer. Because Pakistan, one of the two nuclear race opponents on South Asia subcontinent, is China's long-term allied country.
As early in 1993, U.S. exerted economic sanction on China due to China's exporting missile components and technology to Pakistan. U.S. did not cancel the sanction to China until 1994 when China guaranteed to stop exporting ground-to-ground missile.
U.S. is also worrying about the missile deal between China and Iran that will constitute a serious intimidation to America's allied countries in Middle East and U.S. benefit.
But the U.S. official who revealed above information would not like to give detailed explanation for what kind of missile technology China provided to Pakistan and Iran and when did China do so.
He said there is no enough evidence at present to support the conclusion that China exported missile technology to these two countries for sure.
Every time when U.S. got evidence that indicating China's exporting of missile technology to these two countries before, China would always either deny it or say that the technology was so called dual-purpose technology, and the technology she exported was for peaceful purpose only.
Chinese side has not made any public response so far to American delegation official's speech.
According to another report of Associated Press from Beijing, Washington has confirmed the country that helped Pakistan to do R&D and launch Korean type missile in April was North Korea instead of China.
Above is the integral report of VOA correspondent Fang Yuan.
From the meteorological information, we knew the results caused by El Nino phenomena last year, including continual violent fire in Indonesia, the deluge-flooded desert in Peru, and serious abnormal climate in wide areas all around the world.
In America, at the beginning of this year, the flood attacked California and many states in southern area, and then drought hit many places in southern parts.
According to meteorological specialists, the El Nino is changing into another new phenomenon called La Nina.
And next year, La Nina will have a frightening behavior at least as strong as El Nino.
Now, please listen to a report of VOA correspondent Li Lan from Chicago and read by Qi Zhifen.
Last winter, it was much warmer than those usually freezing winters in Chicago and with less snow, and it could be very similar next winter.
At the same time, El Nino swept fiercely in Southeast Asia, the rainfall greatly reduced and the drought resulted in a prairie fire burning for several weeks out of control.
Both El Nino and La Nina are the result of a considerable temperature change in surface water in east Pacific Ocean in the Tropics.
El Nino means the temperature of surface water in the ocean is much higher than usual, it will affect air current situation, and in turn it will change the climate in different regions in the world.
While La Nina means the temperature of surface water in the ocean is much lower than usual, and its influence on many regional climate is just contrary to El Nino.
The climate specialist, Lavo, of U.S. National Bureau of Meteorology said that the big fire in Indonesia next year wouldn't be out of control because it was estimated that the rainfall in this area from December this year to March next year would be more than that in past years.
Meanwhile, the temperature in west and southeast Africa will be a little lower than normal time, and rainfall in northern part of South America will be more.
The southern part of America will be drier than usual. It means there could be a lasting drought in Texas and New Mexico, and the possibility of big forest fire in Florida will be higher than normal.
All the rainstorms in California and southern region this year were imputed to El Nino.
Lavo said that the El Nino won't produce rainstorm itself, but it will offer conditions of forming the serious rainstorm.
This summer is one of the hottest summers in U.S.
Somebody connect global warming to El Nino phenomena.
Lavo thinks it is possible, but has not been confirmed so far.
But whatever the other reason is, it means the coming winter in north and middle west part of U.S. will be a much colder winter, a winter with more snow.
Meanwhile, in the China town area of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, Chinese and local people are defending their residences shoulder to shoulder.
Since a serious riot in May, China town was violently attacked again.
Please listen to another report by VOA correspondent Grand from Jakarta.
Curtain of night fell, soldiers were shooting to warn and dispel the young men gathered in China town and throwing stones to soldiers.
Several hours ago, thousands of people in groups set fire and burned a bank only one kiloeter away from the President Palace. The raging fire spread quickly to nearby shops.
These young people broke the door of a shop by a road lamp pillar.
In their attack to Chinese in Saturday, a herd of people pulled a Chinese to street, beat him, and threw him into a water channel.
Then the army drove an armored personnel carrier to save this badly wounded person.
Tanks were patrolling on the streets full of stones and broken glasses, thousands of soldiers, with guns and tear bombs, were watching the local commercial area and kept the riots away from here.
After the chaos in May, the businessman who managed electrical products was forced to move his shop.
The reporter saw a young man of 29, whose surname was Min, was watching behind a wire netting roadblock, just with his pants and leather belt.
This young man, who was working in a computer company, said that he and his Islamic neighbors would guard against the riots for the whole night to prevent robbery.
Mr. Min said after the chaos in May, his neighbor built this wire netting roadblock. But he had never thought to use them so soon.
In some road-blocked area, the local dwellers dispelled groups of strangers with their big wooden sticks.
A resident named Daseyat, with a Muslim hat and a Muslim sarong on him,
said to reporter that most of those robbing young men came from other places out of China town when they heard the disturbance here.
These mobs robbed and destroyed an underground railway station one kilometer away. Being chased after by the soldiers, the mobs threw away shoes, computers, and clothing shelves all the road.
The International Court of Justice in Hague judged three defendants for their war crime against Serbs in Bosnia, but announced their high commander not guilty.
The International Court adjudicated that it was not necessary for Bosnia Muslim Filarichi to take responsibility for his underling's violence against Serbian war prisoners in Cailaibichi prison camp in 1992.
Other three defendants were sentenced for fixed-term imprisonment for their action in so called terroristic rule in the prison camp.
Dear listeners, now let's see the development in China.
A few days ago, Chinese government took several persons with different political view into custody again, so to stop the gathering of Chinese Democratic Party members in Zhejiang and Shanghai.
Please listen to the broadcasting of VOA Chinese department, reported by Qingyue.
According to the news of Hong Kong headquartered Chinese Human Right and Democratic Movement Information Center, the public security persons of Hangzhou city took two members of Chinese Democratic Party, Zhu Zhengming and Mao Qinxiang, away from their home.
No one knows where they are now.
Before this, the police had arrested another four key persons of democratic movement who had close relations with Chinese Democratic Party, they were Yao Zhenxian, Li Guotao, Wu Yilong and Wang Rongqing respectively.
According to Chinese Human Right and Democratic Movement Information Center, about twenty Chinese Democratic Party members from branches in Zhejiang and Shanghai originally planned to have their first meeting on Friday afternoon in a hotel in Hangzhou.
Police took arrest operation aimed to this meeting.
Meanwhile, the public security personnel in different places of Zhejiang province warned some other active democratic movement members not to go out of their homes, otherwise they would be arrested.
Chinese government viewed this opposing faction party, Chinese Democratic Party, as an illegal organization, and ever arrested and interrogated tens of supporters and active members of this organization.
But in most cases they were freed soon.
Associated Press, Reuters, Ltd and Agency Francaise de Press reported this latest development issued by Chinese Human Right and Democratic Movement Information Center respectively.
Palestinian Leader Arafat started his first official flight from Gaza International Airport.
Gaza International airport was put into operation the day before.
On Wednesday, the Israeli security officials, at the runway, saw Arafat's special plane off to Paris.
Israeli side was in charge of the security of this airport.
The Land for Peace Agreement signed recently between Israel and Palestine paved the way for operation of Gaza international airport.
Palestinian thinks that this airport symbolizes their sovereignty and a big promotion to Palestinian economy.
American President Clinton guaranteed on World Aids Day to offer new financial aid, including more research appropriation, to prevent this fatal disease.
Clinton planned to increase 30% Aids research funds to National Health Research Institute.
He also intended to declare 10 million US dollars of money for taking care of Aids orphans.
Clinton government expressed that the increased research funds will be one of the largest investment to Aids research by American public financing.
Let's have a look at Canada first.
Canadian International Trade Minister Marchi indicated that when Canada exports her trade products, she should export her values simultaneously to urge China and other Asian countries to improve their human right status.
Marchi made this remark in responding to a propose made by Senate Foreign Affair Committee of Canada. This propose suggested combining trade with human right.
Now, please listen a report of VOA correspondent Yan Ming from Toronto.
Canadian International Trade Minister Marchi responded very actively to a report proposed by Senate Foreign Affair Committee of Canadian Congress. This report suggested combining trade with human right.
Marchi expressed that Canada should include human right in Canada's foreign trade policy as a new factor.
A report of Ottawa Citizen newspaper said, Canadian Federal International Trade Minister Marchi made this remark when attending a meeting on foreign affair and international trade on Thursday in Ottawa.
Marchi said, both the local situation he saw during his participating in APEC summit conference in Malaysia not long ago, and China's arrest of persons with different political view in recent days made him believe firmly that Canada should export her values simultaneously with her products, no matter in offering economic aid or handling international trade.
The human right and social justice should be an important part in Canadian foreign trade policy.
According to Canadian Press, the report of Foreign Affair Committee of Canadian Senate suggested that Canadian government should re-examine and verify all the foreign aid projects, and strive to improve local human right status simultaneously when the economy of aid receiving countries develops.
A report of National Post newspaper said, all signs indicated that Canadian government was trying to regulate her policy towards Asian countries including China, and the report of Foreign Affair Committee of Senate was just one of those signs.
Canadian foreign minister Axworthy expressed on Thursday that Canada was very much concerned at China's arrest of persons with different political view.
He said, we must respond to this event.
We have pointed out to Chinese government that the arrest of persons with different political view breached UN Civil Right and Political Right Convention signed by China.
A report of Canadian Press said, as a matter of fact, during his visit to China last month, Canadian Prime Minister Chretien changed his usual way of not accuse China publicly and criticized China's human right records several times in public occasions.
This unusual way of Canadian Prime Minister actually showed the changes in Canadian foreign policy.
The report of National Post newspaper said, the people in Canadian circle had different responses to International Trade Minister Marchi's support to the combining trade with human right.
Some people showed their concern in private that this would affect the business of Canadian enterprises.
However, Doctor Zhu Yuchao of Aucknagen University in British Columbia, Canada, has quite different idea.
AS for the capital in North America, why they turn to East Asia to invest, to build factories, one of the important reasons is of course to earn money, yes, to have profit.
But at the same time when they enter these East Asia countries, they can bring some standards, for example, the labor protection, yes, the labor protection, the labor welfare, and other standards, and also the requirement to environment protection and so on, to bring these standards to these countries, this is, bilateral.
Moreover, for these, the man who bring these to them plays a role of good sample, to improve local human right, to improve directly the labor right, have, will have very direct affect.
Above is the report of VOA correspondent Yan Ming from Toronto.
U.S. and North Korea continued their negotiation on Friday for the access and inspection to a place near Pingyong, where was doubted as underground nuclear facility.
Representatives of both parties will hold a two-day meeting and then continue their negotiation in Washington.
A similar meeting was held by both parties in Pingyong last month
That meeting was interrupted due to North Korea's demand.
North Korea requested U.S.to provide 300 million US dollars and as an exchange condition, North Korea would allow the inspection personnel to access all the relative places.
Before the new negotiation, North Korea launched a series of attack against U.S.
Sheng Huaren, chief of China State Economic and Trade Commission indicates that Chinese army and other government departments will be completely separated from the domination to their subordinate enterprises and companies in a near future.
Although Chinese government ever released several similar directives, the determination of this action seems Much stronger.
Now, please listen to the report of VOA correspondent Nin Xin.
Sheng Huaren, chief of China State Economic and Trade Commission indicates that Chinese army will be completely separated from the domination to their subordinate enterprises and companies before December 20.
Other Party, government, and judicatory departments must take similar action at the beginning of next year.
Chinese President Jiang Zemin commanded in July this year that, army, and armed police must stop running enterprises, hotels, and other commercial establishments so that to control the wide spread corruption and smuggling within the army.
Sheng Huaren indicated that, up to now, some enterprises dominated by army in Shanghai and Tianjin have been shifted to be under the leadership of local government. But he does not explain if the army will be compensated.
Not only the army must hand over their control of the subordinate enterprises, Party, government, and judicatory departments will never manage their attached state-owned enterprises as well.
There are more than 100 million employees in Chinese state-owned enterprises, due to serious bad debts, dead debts, and a weakened export market resulted from global economic crises etc, many state-owned enterprises are at the brink of bankruptcy.
Sheng Huaren said, the employee numbers on roll book in many existing state-owned enterprises are over ten times as many as what these enterprises actually need, that makes those enterprises in a worse loss situation.
This shows that enhancement of market competition power of state-owned enterprises has been a very urgent affair.
On the other hand, the analysts indicate that the corruption and poor management widely exist in government and judicatory departments who administrate the state-owned enterprises.
The most common conditions are that many government officials who administrate an industry also take charge of the enterprises in the same industry.
Therefore, they are able to take full advantage of their right or power to offer preferential conditions on contracts, loans, and taxes to these enterprises.
These phenomena ruined the fair market competition; in turn it obstructed China's transformation of from planned economy to market economy.
It is understood that, over 500 largest state-owned enterprises originally attached to the Party, government, and judicatory departments will be supervised by a newly established commission under the State Council, and the employees of these enterprises will be arranged by personal departments.
The smaller enterprises will be administrated by the local government.
And the financial and investment companies will be administrated and controlled unitarily by Ministry of Finance.
At present, it is not sure if the transformation means the country will reduce the loans to state-owned enterprises and make them gradually go bankrupt.
Some analysts think that because a high unemployment rate may cause social turbulence, China will solve the loss problem of state-owned enterprises in the way of merger instead of bankruptcy.
Above is the integrate report of VOA correspondent Nin Xin.
In order to respond the air attack from U.S. to Iraq, the lower house Duma of Russian Parliament is planning to have a debate on the issue of unilateral cancellation of the sanction to Iraq.
Duma is considering the restoration of political and economic co-operation between Russia and Iraq, in spite of UN's eight year sanction on Iraq.
Some time early, Russian called back her ambassadors to U.S. and Britain to protest the military action taken by U.S. and Britain.
UN Latin America and Caribbean Region Economic Committee estimated that the economic growth rate of that region would reduce to 1% next year.
But this organization confessed that the situation could be worse.
Now, please listen to a detailed report from VOA South America correspondent Mike broadcasted by Tian Ye.
According to UN Economic Committee's initial survey, economic growth rate this year in Latin America and Caribbean Region will be 2.3%, a considerable plunge as compare with last year's 5.2%.
The figure will be much lower if without strong economic motion in the first half of this year.
This committee said that despite external impact, the economy in this area was relatively good.
But the worst influence has appeared and it will last to next year.
UN Economic Committee said that the difficult economic situation in Brazil reflected in some countries in a southern conical region.
Most of these countries have been affected by low prices of their major export products.
Committee said most of these countries chose to raise bank interest to protect their currencies.
This measure restrained economic growth and raised the rate of unemployment.
The report said if these countries wanted to keep their stronger competitive power in the global market by devaluation of their currencies, they would run a risk of a worse inflation and the actual salaries...
The ground control persons of hot air balloon trial uninterrupted round-the-world fly said, three pilots on the hot air balloon should fly out of Chinese territorial air space on Wednesday and then fly eastward across Pacific Ocean.
On Tuesday, this three-person team encountered political trouble when their hot air balloon deviated from a flight route stipulated by Chinese authority.
Chinese officials once ordered them to land on Tibet administered by China. But after some negotiation with British and American foreign affair officials, Chinese side withdrew this command.
Near Dhanbad city of Bihar province in east India, a train and an omnibus collided at a cross of railway and highway, caused ten dead and five injured.
Indian News Agency - Indian Newspaper Trust said, the railway officials rebuked it was omnibus passengers that caused this accident.
According to the report, the impatient passengers seized the key from a guard who attended the barrier at the road cross, and opened the barrier.
But before omnibus's going across the railway, the train arrived and resulted in a collision.
All the dead and injured were bus passengers.
International supervisory personnel in Kosovo still see hope of restoring cease-fire, in spite of the battle in several days running between Salvia security army and Albania separatists.
A spokesman of supervisory personnel expressed in Pristina on Monday that the present situation in Kosovo of Yugoslavia is calm.
The battle of last week killed at least 12 persons.
Chairman of European Security and Co-operation Organization, Polish Gelmeike condemned this violent conflict caused by both parties of the battle.
Several key persons in American Publican Party congressmen showed their divergence on the adjudgement of how to impeach President Clinton.
The Senate Majority Party leader Lott indicated that the Senate would make a fair judgment based on existing evidences.
The prosecutor of Republican Party in House of Representative hoped to summons more than 15 persons, including Lewinsky, to court.
The amour between Lewinsky and President Clinton was the core of this scandal.
Lott senator hoped that trial would start on January 11 and to be ended within two weeks.
The just freed western tourists said in Yemen, that the kidnappers took them as shields when Yemen government army shooting at these kidnappers in order to save them.
Four tourists were killed in this gun battle on Tuesday, while 12 saved.
Yemen government said Yemen army began to attack the kidnappers only when some hostages were obviously to be killed.
But some saved tourists said, the gun was fired only after Yemen army started the operation of rescue.
Due to his report of a woman was violated during riot in May, a correspondent was subpoenaed for interrogation by Indonesia police.
(Agence Francaise de Press, Jakarta) - An international organization, who safeguards freedom of the press, "Journalist Protection Committee" expressed their astonishment on Indonesian police's subpoena and interrogation of a correspondent because his report of a Chinese origin woman was violated during riot in May.
Journalist Protection Committee, with its office in New York, said that a correspondent named Gunawan who works foríµJakarta-Jakartaí¸magazine was subpoenaed to a police headquarter for interrogation on Thursday.
This committee said in one of Gunawan's reports published in July issue, he quoted a speech made by a raped woman.
In a report published in íµNew York Timesí¸on June 10, the speech of the same victim was also quoted.
In its letter wrote to Indonesian President Habibi, this committee said the issuance of summons "was the first step of the police for accusation."
This committee "is very much concerned that the cite of such a law will cause a negative impact on free speech."
What the committee means was that Islamic organization in Indonesia exerted pressure on government pushing them to arrest Gunawan under the Clause 156 of the Criminal Law.
This clause prohibits people to slander religious groups.
International Independent Journalist Alliance also protested police's subpoena of Gunawan.
It said this would "establish a precedent of weakening of more press freedom power enjoyed by the news media after former President Soeharto's step down."
Journalist Protection Committee urged Habibi to "stop coping with Gunawan", and asked all the parties to solve their disputes on civil court.
It also appeals all the parties "to do their best for the cancellation of slander clause in Indonesia Criminal Law."
Most Hong Kong People Don't Like to Call Themselves Chinese.
(Agence Francaise de Press, Hong Kong) - A popular opinion roll released yesterday shows that most Hong Kong people don't like to call themselves Chinese, although Hong Kong was returned to China last year.
The canvass result shows that in 6.5 million Hong Kong people, 40% of them call themselves as "Hongkongnese", 22.3% as "Hong Kong Chinese", and 20.6% as "Chinese live in Hong Kong".
The organization undertook this canvass was the Social Science Research Centre of Hong Kong University.
Out of 517 interviewees, only 20.6% call themselves as Chinese, 1.6% gave no definite answer or said nothing.
In a similar investigation did at half a year after Hong kong's returning to China, 40% of them call themselves as "Hongkongnese", and 18% as Chinese.
It is now 15 months since Hong Kong's return, Hong Kong government always tries to remind local residents that they are Chinese.
Hong Kong officials criticized that the British colonial domination of 150 years long makes Hong Kong dwellers feel difficulty in their identification.
Dong Jianhua, the Chief of Hong Kong Special Administration region, made a remark the day before yesterday in his National Day address: "As a Chinese, I feel very glorious, and am very proud of our country's development."
In order to cultivate Chinese citizen awareness in Hong Kong dwellers, Hong Kong Citizen Education Promotion Association edited and published a book, rich in pictures and texts, called íµI am a Chineseí¸.
The governor of Sarawak thought that Amhad might in all probability committed crime of pederasty etc.
(Agence Francaise de Press, Sydney) - Tayma, the first minister of Sarawak province of Malaysia, said that the detained former Vice President Amhad might in all probability committed all the crimes accused, including pederasty.
When he was interviewed by an Australian newspaper yesterday, Tayma said that he was "well acquainted with Amhad", and believed that it was most probably that all the crimes accused to Amhad would be established.
He said: "I have known what charges he will face.
I think he will be judged as guilty in all possibilities."
After he was dismissed at the beginning of September, Amhad launched a serious of reforming parades, and was arrested on September 20 under the Domestic Security Law and was accused of ten crimes, including five pederasty and five corruption.
In his first appearance on Tuesday after detained by the police for 9 days, he was blue and swollen in his left eye, and had bruise on his hands; he denied all the accusation on the court.
Tayma is now attending an international alumnus meeting in Adleyde city.
He said that he has not contacted Amhad recently, but he neither worries about his situation, nor about an unfair trial to him.
He said: "The law is fair. . . . . . if he is innocent, I believe he will be released.
However, if his crimes are established, he should be punished like other Malaysian citizens."
Tayma also attributed the recent event that damaged Malaysia's international image, to Amhad.
He said:" I think, what caused us an unfavorable imaging was not that happened here but Amhad's speech."
National Youth League Will Make A World Largest Huge Cloth Strip to Support National Leader
(Kuala Lumpur) - National Front Youth League will make a world largest huge cloth strip to express their love and support to their country and their leader.
This Youth League will hold a meeting on 24th of this month to present the patriotic letters from their countrymen to the Prime Minister Mahathir.
In this meeting, the Youth League will show their big patriotic cloth strips, one of them could be put into World Genius record.
This huge cloth stripe, with an area of 150 meters by 100 meters, will be made by National Front Youth League in Saba province and will apply for World Genius record.
National Front Youth League indicates that the purposes of these activities are to express Youth League's support and love to their national leaders.
"We want to make everyone know that if someone try to overthrow an elected government based on a democratic system in a non-democratic and illegal way, Malaysian people will never be worldly wise and play safe or keep silence."
Meanwhile, National Front Youth League indicated that foreign people, no matter foreign government, leaders, or mass media, should not interfere Malaysia's internal affairs.
"Although we are fully confident about our government's ability to cope with everything that could harm country security, somebody's irresponsible action has already challenged our patience again and again."
Therefore, the Youth League appeals the countrymen to resist, with one heart, foreign force's attempt of ruin country's calm and peace.
Bangkok Overhead Railway Will Start Again
(Agence Francaise de Press, Bangkok) - Thailand Ministry of Communications declared yesterday that Thailand will lodge a claim against Hong Kong listed company, Hopewell group, who contracted the construction of Bangkok overhead railway and highway system, to compensate 6.8 billion US dollars (about 11 billion Singapore dollars) for its delayed performance of the contract.
Parady, Vice Minister of Thailand Ministry of Communications said that Thailand Ministry of Communications and National Railway Bureau have the right of recourse against Hopewell group for compensation of 6.8 billion US dollars due to the loss of delayed construction. Thailand accused that Hopewell group only completed 12% of the originally scheduled project in past 8 years.
After the economic crises of Thailand, Hopewell group had several negotiations with Thailand authorities without any result on worsened financial disputes due to devaluation of Baht and the disputes of land confiscation progress. Thailand government stopped the contract with Hopewell group in January this year.
Therefore, Hopewell group asked Thailand government to compensate 100 billion Thailand Baht (about 4.2 billion Singapore dollars) for its capitals invested in the past 8 years and the partly completed project.
Thailand government said yesterday that Thailand is planning to re-start this project with total investment of 3.2 billion US dollars, but considers reducing its scale.
But anyway, it will never allow Hopewell group's participating.
Parady said, German government and Deutsch Reconstruction Bank(KFW)are interested in the renascence of this giant project, and decided to offer 100 million Thailand Baht for a feasibility study of Bangkok overhead railway and highway system project.
A subsidiary company of Germany Siemens is co-operating with a local Thailand company on the construction of another electric railway of 23 kilometers long in Bangkok.
Thailand Financial Minister Tarrin Visit Japan on Financial Rescue Issue
(Agence Francaise de Press, Bangkok) - Thailand Financial Minister Tarrin left for Tokyo yesterday for negotiation on the Thailand part of a financial rescue package. The total amount of this package is at 30 billion US dollars (48.6 billion Singapore dollars) offered by Japan to rescue Asian member economies in financial crises.
He said, he would have a through discussion during his four-day visit in Japan, but he could not expect how much Japan would give to Thailand.
Tarrin told the reporters at Bangkok airport:" I made a outline report of that loan to Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, but we have not confirm the figure yet as Japan has not noticed us."
He said, he hoped to have a low interest rate and generous repayment conditions from this plan.
He said, he would have separate talks to officials of Japanese Minister of Trade and Industry on new aid to assist Thailand industry and reformation of agriculture.
Japanese Financial Minister Kiichi Miyazawa declared a financial rescue package of 30 billion US dollars in a group-seven conference on October 3th.
Within a short period, Japan will appropriate 15 billion US dollars to assist trade, and financing etc.
Japan will offer direct financial aid in the ways of loans of Import and Export Bank of Japan and Asia bond purchasing, and offer Japanese yuan loans for development aid of Asian countries
She will also give guarantee for the bank loans of Asian countries and issuance of Asian bond, and to help them in international fund rasing.
Kiichi Miyazawa's financial rescue package is critically important to Thailand because the latter just postponed her plan of issuance of 500 million US dollars of global bond.
Thailand wants to utilize this money to inject more circulating capital to the economy.
Thailand's economy is seriously attacked by high cost of debt and global new market storm.
August Retail Index Dropped 8.3% Than That of Last Year
The retail index of August dropped 8.3% as compare with that of the same period last year, this is the 12th month in sequence of index dropping.
Since September of 1997, the retail index has always been lower than the same month of the previous year. It shows that the local retail business is still struggling in a downturn.
As compare with that of July this year, the retail index also dropped by 8.3%.
If excludes the automobile sales, the index drop will be 3.9%.
According to statistics bureau, nearly all the retail sale was very weak in August.
The automobile sales amount in July increased significantly by 41.4%, but it dropped 19.9% in August.
Other retail business with dropping sales includes: furniture and home appliances (8%), textiles, and personal use articles (7.8%), department store and supermarket (2.6%), oil station (1.3%), and groceries (0.3%).
On the other hand, food and restraint business of August also dropped by 4.5% than that of the same period last year, this is the 7th month of this index dropping since February 1998.
However, if compare with that of July, the index of food and restaurants business raised slightly by 1.4%.
The money spent on food and restaurants increased from 245 million yuan of July to 248 million yuan.
The relative increasing was mainly resulted from 6.6% increasing of fast food shop business amount.
The business of other food shops outside of restaurants also increased by 2.5%.
The retail index and food and restaurant index mean the statistic figures released every month by the Bureau of Statistics. They were specially designed to indicate the short period performance of retail and restaurant business in our country.
25 Storied High-rise in Detroit Leveled Down in 30 Seconds
(Agence Francaise de Press, Detroit) - 107 years old Hardeson Building became a debris within 30 seconds the day before yesterday.
This reinforced steel bar framed building was 25 storied tall. It was one of the tallest buildings destroyed by directional blast of plastic explosive.
Hardeson Building was one of the largest retail shops in the world, and also the landmark of Detroit.
In the blast sound of 1215 kilograms of plastic explosive, it finally became 3.06 million kilograms of debris.
At 5:45 local time in that afternoon, a series of inward explosive began in Hardeson Building, dense and strong dust became huge fog swallowed all the people around the site.
A citizen said: "I have never thought that I will be blackened all over by the dust."
When the building was collapsing, some spectators cheered, but others were wiping their tears, as they would never see this familiar building again.
In its heyday of 1950s, about 100,000 people go to Hardeson building for shopping everyday.
At that time, some famous movie stars like Jiabao and Parker etc also came here.
Detroit mayor Elche indicated to the public that: "The authority will give the opportunity of start the igniter to the public to collect 150,000 US dollars for charity donation."
But because Hardeson building was Detroit's glory in former days, no one would like to start the igniter to destroy this building by himself.
A man who stood for protection of this building said: "This is a sad thing."
Portuguese Foreign Minister Will Talk to UN Official on Issue of Too Much Indonesia Army in East Timor
(Agence Francaise de Press, Lisbon) - According to reliable source, Portuguese Foreign Minister Gama will meet an UN official in Vienna tomorrow to discuss on the issue of overmuch Indonesia army in East Timor.
Gama's spokesman Cesar said that the relative report was not in conformity with the guarantee made by Indonesian Foreign Minister Alatas in August to Gama and UN secretary-general Annan.
Cesar said that Alatas once guaranteed to reduce Indonesia Army in East Timor gradually.
Resources said that Gama would discuss the relevant development with Annan's special representative Mark.
According to the documents, which were obviously confidential documents of Indonesia army, passed round in foreign journalists for perusal that by the end of July there were 17,834 Indonesian army in East Timor.
Western embassies said this figure was very close to what they estimated.
However, General Wiranto, Indonesian Army Commander-in-chief, said that the figure of 17,000 was "a lie."
He did not reveal the real number, but military officials indicated that there were about 11,500 armies in mid August in East Timor.
Indonesia sent her troops to East Timor in 1975 and took possession of East Timor in the following year.
But, UN still thought that Lisbon was the official administration country of East Timor.
UN secretary of general began to assist the peaceful talk between Portuguese and Indonesia since 1983.
East Timor leaders, including Nobel price winner Beirohu and East Timor Independent Movement Guerrilla leader Gusmao who was in jail, issued statement to support relative report and disproved Jakarta's claim of reducing army in East Timor.
U.S. Federal Reserve May Lower Interest Again
(Reuters, Ltd, Washington) - Rivlin, Vice Chairwoman of U.S. Federal Reserve warned on Monday that the global financial storm would cause a considerable slowdown of U.S. economy and she also implicated that U.S could lower the interest to avoid further economic recession.
Rivlin said in an interview that she did not think U.S. economy would collapse, but she warned a considerable slowdown of economy due to reduced export volume and less employment opportunities.
The Federal Reserve lowered interest rate two times in the past six weeks to prevent U.S. economy from attack by the most serious financial storm within half a century.
The Federal Reserve will have a meeting on November 17 to discuss on interest decrease.
It is guessed that the Federal Reserve will lower the interest again to keep a stable economy.
U.S. economic growth rate in the third quarter was only 3.3%, lower than 5.5% of the first quarter.
It is estimated that the economy will slowdown in coming months.
This is because of a reduced export volume to Asia and it impacted on investment and output in U.S. manufacturing.
Rivlin pointed out that the great pressure on U.S. financial market has been slightly relaxed in recent weeks.
However, she warned the credit contraction still exists.
Rivlin thinks that the world economy has not got rid of crises yet.
Asia's economic revival is in its beginning phase.
The second biggest economic body Japan's economy has not revived, and Russia's economic situation is still "very bad".
Lien Hoe is Estimated to Redeem Remaining 65% Bond Before End of Year
(Kuala Lumper) Lien Hoe organization is estimated to redeem 65% bond, or total amount of 5.381 million ringgit bond before the end of this year by the financing of bank loan.
Lien Hoe organization can redeem guaranteed debt of total value of 85.74 million ringgit with an annual rate of 6%, and its expiry date is August 17, 1998.
Due to drop of real estate market and idle fund contraction, Lien Hoe organization can only redeem 35% of its bond by the expiry date; for the remaining 65% bond, the expiry date will be postponed to August 17 of 2000 with an annual rate of 15%.
Last month, Securities Exchange Supervision Committee approved Lien Hoe organization to extend its bond expiry date to August 17 of 2000. Meanwhile, this group is the first one in country got approval of bond expiry date extension.
Due to the drop of market interest rate, Lien Hoe organization intend to redeem remaining bond by the bank loan instead of paying a higher 15% annual interest rate to the bond holders.
Zeng Hualong, the managing director of this company, indicated that due to a reduced interest rate, and the new financial budget proposal is benefit to the developing of real estate, it is estimated that Lien Hoe organization will be able to turn around its bad situation in the first half of this year and get a good performance in the second half.
Portuguese Congressman Demands Extradition of Soeharto
(Associated Press, Lisbon) - Portuguese Procurator-General Office said the day before yesterday that the General Procuratorate is studying a Portuguese congressman's demand of extradition of former Indonesia President Soeharto.
Congressman Korleiya Silva said in his letter that Soeharto should be extradited for his action of infringement of human right in East Timor.
Indonesia invaded former Portuguese colony East Timor in 1975 and merged it into Indonesian territory in several weeks.
Sarla Pinna, a spokeswoman of the General Procuratorate, said: "We are investigating to see if we can do this according to Portuguese law."
Human right organizations accused Indonesian army's action of infringement of human right in East Timor.
Silva said that a recent event of possible extradition of former Chilean dictator Pinochet because of accusation of his genocide etc enhanced her resolution of extradition of Soeharto.
Pinochet is now in London and waiting for the decision of House of Lords about his extradition.
British Supreme Court cancelled its original warrant of arrest for arresting of Pinochet, because as a former state leader, Pinochet enjoyed the right of prosecution immunity.
Silva is a member of Portuguese right wing party, Populist Party.
He said, UN still considers that Portugal is the legal administration country of East Timor, this is helpful to their demand of extradition of Soeharto.
Philippine Foreign Minister: No Hope to Join ASEAN Next Month for Cambodia
(Agence Francaise de Press, Manila) - Philippine Foreign Minister Siazon said the day before yesterday that it will be hopeless for Cambodia to join ASEAN during the ASEAN summit conference in Hanoi next month.
Siazon said, even if the Cambodian hostile parties organized a coalition government before the summit conference, Cambodia would not become a member of ASEAN automatically.
He said: "Many ASEAN member countries hesitated about it.
There are many problems; Cambodia's political progress is still going on.
If we accept them as new members now, and then they begin to fight again, we will have to solve this problem again."
Early this week, Malaysian foreign minister Abdullah said that Cambodia's joining of ASEAN depends on if it can set up a legal government.
Siazon said: "Someone says, were we deceived before? When we prepared to accept them but just after several days they began to fight again."
He obviously meant the Cambodia was very close to joining of ASEAN in April of 1997.
At that time, Cambodia's joining of ASEAN was just a visionary hope plan mainly because Hun Sun overthrew Prince Ranariddh by force.
Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party won the election in July this year. But this party could not get two third majority seats, which is necessary for exclusive reign.
Last week, Hun Sen has already reached an agreement with Ranariddh for organizing a coalition government, but the new government has not been established.
China Plans to Fill Millions Hectares of Sea Next Century, Settle 20 or 30 Million People.
(Agence Francaise de Press, Beijing) - English version íµChina Dailyí¸reported yesterday, China plans to fill millions hectares of sea next century and to settle 20 or 30 million people.
Specialists revealed in an earth-filling meeting held on Xiaoshan of Zhejiang province, government hopes to fill one million hectares of sea along 18,000 kilometer long in 40 or 50 years.
íµChina Dailyí¸said that 20 or 30 million people will live in these areas next century.
This newspaper cited Professor Yu Zhiyin's speech:" From the technical point of view, it is not a problem for China to fill the sea, the question is the capital."
The source said, even this plan will cause a big environmental problem, "This is still a good method to ease up the insufficient land resources next century, particularly because China has such a big population."
The relevant plan can also promote new industry and employment opportunities.
China plans to invest on infrastructure to eliminate the impact of Asian financial crises.
Zuo Zhongmo(transliteration), deputy secretary general of the meeting said:" This is not only a agricultural issue, these land can be used for comprehensive developing applications in many fields, including forestry, industry and tourism."
Although China carries out "One child policy", China's population is estimated to grow continuously till the middle of next century. It will reach its maximum of 1.6 billion populations.
China now has 1.23 billion populations.
Over 90% population concentrates on one-third country land.
Japanese Prime Minister Hopes Miyazawa Remain in Office to Push Economy Reviving Plan
(Reuters, Ltd. Tokyo) - Japanese financial minister Kiichi Miyazawa received pressure asking him to remain in office yesterday.
He expressed his intention of soon resignation last week.
Miyazawa's resignation and stay threw a shadow on coalition government of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi's Liberal Democratic Party and Kozawa Ichiro's Liberal Party.
When senior officials' divergence on the issue of whether Liberal Party's cabinet seat is part of the agreement became apparent, an unstable situation emerged in coalition government.
Outside resources said that after Miyazawa's resignation, the Secretary-general Naida would work in his position.
Miyazawa indicated last Friday that he would resign before the end of this year but did not give exact date.
He said on a press conference: "I am not sure about the time."
It is anticipated that he will hold the position of financial minister until the end of a two-week special session in parliament.
The parliament session will be closed on December 14.
Keizo Obuchi's deputy Cabinet Secretary Susuki told NHK TV station, he believed that Prime Minister would ask Miyazawa of 79 years old to stay in his position.
Susuki said:" I think that (Obuchi) in private wants him to stay and carry out his economy reviving plan."
Obuchi will talk to Miyazawa face to face.
He said:" Considering of his ability, it will be hard to find anybody to replace him.
I myself hope that he would stay and strive for the prosperity of national economy."
Obuchi's public comments made on Miyazawa's resignation was he read some relevant reports and he would talk to financial minister.
Minister of Information Lamo: Demonstrators of "Fire Never Extinguishes" should Not Become Puppet of Foreign Force
(Kuala Lumpur) - Mohammad Lamo, Malaysian Minister of Information, said that the persons who took part in the demonstration of "Fire Never Extinguishes" should not become puppet of foreign force to damage our country, on the contrary, they should express their wills in a more intellectual way.
He said, as compare with the way of violence and making chaos, an intellectual way of expressing wills is more effective.
According to Malaysia News Agency, after attending a Family Day activity of Ministry of Information yesterday, Mohammad Lamo told news media that government had taken steps to make people express their wills freely. They can use 500 "Speaking Out Centers" set up all around the country to express their ideas and comments to the country in an appropriate channel.
He said, government would consider the ideas and comments indicated by the people and make improvement to meet the demand of the numerous people.
He emphasized that this is the way in democratic countries.
He also persuaded those demonstrators to give deliberation to the result of their demonstrations. Because since Malaysia's independent 41 years ago, it is the energetic contribution and construction made by our dedicated people all around the country that built up today's prosperity.
He said, those demonstrators did not think that it was a behavior of betraying country dignity when they got support from foreign force and further rebelled against our government with all their strength.
He indicated:" If foreign people want to invest in Malaysia, we will give them warm welcome; but if they give money to support the demonstrators, we will surely protest against it."
Australia Sent Military Officer to East Timor for Supervision of Indonesian Army Maneuver.
(Reuters, Ltd. Canberra) - Australian Defense Minister Moore said yesterday that Australia was approved to send a military officer to East Timor to supervise the maneuver of Indonesian army.
Moore said in a Sunday program of Channel No.9 TV Station, that he talked to Indonesian President Habibi the day before yesterday about East Timor issue concerned by Australia.
Moore said:" We discussed frankly on East Timor and other relative issues.
We raised the issues concerned by Australia, such as: human right in East Timor and sending military officer to East Timor etc."
After a meeting with Indonesian Defense Minister Wiranto last Friday, Moore held a talk with Habibi in Surabaya the day before yesterday.
Moore said, after Australian military officer in Jakarta arrives in East Timor tomorrow, he could do investigation freely in this place.
He pointed out that this military officer would be there to see army's quantity and establishment and the relation with local people, and come back to report any sensible questions he found.
U.S. showed their concern to the riot in East Timor and cited reliable resources that the recent mop-up operation caused death of common people.
But Moore said, Habibi refused Sherman, the former Chief of Australian National Criminal Bureau, come to East Timor for investigation for the death of five Australian journalists in 1975.
After a new witness accused Josephia, current Minister of Information and Indonesian Special Army Commander-in-Chief in 1975, once gave order to kill these Australian journalists, Australian government has decided to probe into this case again.
Thousand of British Immigrants Left Australia Due to Discrimination of Local People
(Agence Francaise de Press, Sydney) - An investigation report issued yesterday revealed that thousands of British immigrants decided to leave Australia due to the influence of "Mentality of Hatred for British " and discrimination of local people.
For the economic benefit of local immigrants and Australia, British Immigration Association appealed government to envisage this issue.
Hunter, Chairman of this association pointed out that British people think that Australians have "Mentality of Hatred for British ", Australian economy " may loss several million dollars per year because of this".
He said, it was disappointed indeed that so many British people decided to leave Australia. Because nearly all the people left were economical independent skilled workers.
He told reporters: "According to local immigration regulation, these immigrants were not those you want to get rid of."
British people constitute 14% of Australian immigrant population.
However, a statistics of immigration department showed that although 19,978 new British immigrants came to Australia from 1996 to 1997, but 3,737 left in the same period.
Hunter said, an investigation done by this association itself in Melbourne showed that one fourth of British thought that they were discriminated in Australia.
Nearly 40% interviewees thought the local people took side with non-British people.
And 37% of them pointed out that the complaint of British immigrants would not be treated as seriously as that of other ethics.
About 35% of interviewees blamed that the media were the chief criminal that cause local prejudice to British immigrants.
Hunter said that the former Australian Prime Minister Jitin's anti-British standpoint of himself played a negative role.
Korean Army Made Accidents in Succession, Opposition Party Challenge Defense Minister Resignation
(Reuters, Ltd. Seoul) - Korean opposition party challenged Defense Minister Chun Yong-Taek to resign. Because the army made many accidents before this, including launched missiles and light shell to civilian area.
Korean officials said, the latest accident was a mistake happened in a military operation yesterday morning, the cartridge case of a light shell penetrated two walls of an old woman's home.
The old woman's home was close to a place where the missile explosion fragment fell two days ago.
The Navy officials said, the light shell shot by Korean Marine Corps went farer than expected and dropped at that house in Kimpo.
Kimpo is located at the west side of Seoul.
The opposition party, National People's Party made a statement: "The Defense minister Chun Yong-Taek must resign immediately, otherwise, President Kim Dai-jung must remove him from post.
The government that is not afraid of people is not people's government."
The statement said:" Chun Yong-Taek tried to keep his position, he just made an apology......this was false pride."
Ministry of Defense made an apology the day before yesterday for the accident of missile launching.
Navy officials said, the cartridge case of a light shell penetrated two walls of an old woman's house and entered her bath-room.
He said, that 83 years old woman was sent to a nearby hospital due to over frightening.
Last Friday, Korean army accidentally launched a ground to air missile; the missile exploded, caused three civilians injured.
The official of Ministry of National Defense said, when military technical persons in west port city, Inchon, were doing military equipment inspection, this missile was accidentally launched.
Inchon is 40 kilometers away from the border between South and North Korea.
Chuan Leekpai: Thailand Will Bring Forward General Election
(Bangkok, comprehensive news) - Thailand Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai said the night before yesterday that he would bring forward general election before expiration of the term of the seven-party coalition government in October of 2000.
However, he added, the current situation of coalition government was stable and was capable to carry out economic reform plan.
He said, this kind of economic reform was very important to economy revival and to reach the target of a sustainable growth level.
Chuan Leekpai made a speech on a dinner party of Thailand Overseas Correspondent Club:" Foreign investor's confidence is closely linked with the stability of government and the continuity of policies, we will always remember this."
"We don't intend to stay until the expiration of the term.
We will take full advantage of the time we have to carry out the reformation of national economy, and lay down a solid foundation for sustainable development in the future."
Chuan Leekpai indicated that he did not decide when to dismiss the parliament and hold general election before the expiration of the term.
Thailand has not got rid of crises.
Moreover, Chuan Leekpai warned in his speech that Thailand has not got rid of crises.
He pointed out that the current situation was still "fragile", the global factors would cause Thailand's deviation from her target of economy revival in the second half of 1999.
However, he swore to carry through a wide scope reform measures, and to stop corruptions that weakened the economy of this country.
Do Advertisement for Pfizer, Dole Appeal People to Pay More Attention to Impotence
(Associated Press Ltd.,New York) - Republican Dole, who once contended president position in 1996, will start a new campaign. This time he will do advertisement for Pfizer Company, the manufacturer of world famous aphrodyne Viagra and appeal people to pay more attention to impotence.
Dole will talk much in TV ad and focus on sex disability and educational ad on men's general health.
Pfizer would not disclose how much they pay to Dole, and Dole will not mention the name of Viagra in the ad either.
This ad will be broadcasted in the beginning of next year.
Dole's ad is the first time for Pfizer to promote sales of Viagra through TV.
Pfizer is considering whether they would make any ad directly mention the name of Viagra.
In May this year, Dole confessed his trial use of Viagra and spoke highly of its effect as "panacea ".
In his statement, Dole said:" I believe that this campaign will help the men to pay more attention to their healthy problem they are afraid to discuss."
Since this aphrodyne came into the market in April this year, American doctors have written more than six million prescriptions of Viagra.
In U.S., there are 10 to 20 million men suffer from impotence, of which only 10% go to see a doctor.
Dole once attend a discussion program, and claimed in parliament to appeal his countrymen to diagnosis and treat prostate cancer in its early stage and understand its side effect - impotence.
Dole was found the prostate cancer in 1991, the doctors said he was healed after an operation.
Two South Korea Soldiers Were Captured in Korean War, and Escaped from North Korea After 45 Year's in Prison
(Reuters, Ltd. Seoul) - Korean National Security Planning Bureau said the day before yesterday that two South Korean soldiers, who were listed in death roll, escaped from North Korea recently after at least 45 years in prison.
In its statement, Korean National Security Planning Bureau said, Kim Fuji of 67 years old and Piao Dongyi (both names are in transliteration) of 71, have returned to Korea through a third country.
The statement said, both of them were captured by Chinese soldiers during Korean War in Northeast area of the border between North and South Korea.
The statement said, both of them were forced to work in a coal mine in North Korea as slaves before their escape.
After the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 was ended, Korean Ministry of National Defense listed tens of thousands disappeared soldier names in a death roll, Kim Fuji and Piao Dongyi were two of them.
The finally signed between South and North Korea was a cease-fire agreement and not an official peace agreement.
From the technical point of view, South and North Korea are in the status of war.
It was unexpected that these two men became relatives by marriage in the period of prison.
The statement said that the second son Kim Ninqiu of Kim Fuji and the fourth daughter Piao Zhengxin of Piao Dingyi got married in April of 1991.
The statement gave no further explanation.
Another official of Korean National Security Planning Bureau said, Kim Fuji and Piao Dongyi were presently detained by authorities for questioning.
Ministry of National Defense indicated that about 20,000 soldiers disappeared in Korean War. Ministry of National Defense thinks that some of them are still alive.
In April this year, an escaped prisoner of war said he knew that there were about 50 - 60 South Korean soldiers were poisoned in North Korea.
Huang Sihua: Create A Better Environment Next Year; Malaysia Wants to Retain 10 Billion Foreign Capitals in Stock Market.
(Kuala Lumpur) - Huang Sihua, Vice Financial Minister of Malaysia, said that it is anticipated that over 10 billion ringgit of foreign capital could be withdrawn from the stock market when foreign currency control measurement enters its one full year by September 1 next year. Therefore, the government will take all possible measures to create a better investment environment to encourage foreign capital's retaining in Malaysia.
He said, from the economic growth rate of the third quarter, we can see that Malaysia's economy has showed its sign of revival, it is believed that by September next year the economy will tend to stable, and the market will have come alive and foreign businessmen will invest to Malaysia again.
Huang Sihua made a speech on an economic report and communion meeting held by Malaysia Chinese Industrial and Commercial Union the day before yesterday.
He stressed that Malaysian government will fix the exchange rate for Malaysian currency at 1 USD = 3.8 ringgit. This will encourage the investors to map out a long-term investment plan, make more correct investment decision without worrying about the fluctuation of currency exchange rate.
He said, the foreign currency control measures would be taken for some time until international currency market is stable. A speculation control system and transparency of currency trade would be established internationally and to be perfectly executed to prevent Southeast Asia from attack of financial storm again.
On the other hand, Huang Sihua said, through the coordination of Ministry of Finance, our country has approved the loan to 20% companies whose loan application was not approved before and complained to Ministry of Finance.
He said, Ministry of Finance will continue to offer consulting or relevant assistance to those companies with their loan application not approved, to enable those companies to carry out their developing plans smoothly and as a result, to drive the domestic economic market activities.
Supporting Countries, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Korea: U.S. Has No Choice
(Tokyo, comprehensive news) - Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Korea expressed their support to "Operation Desert Fox". They said that U.S. had no choices.
Japanese Prime Minister Obuchi Keizo expressed his support to air attack, and appealed Baghdad to accept unconditional UN weapon inspection.
Obuchi said in his statement, Iraq's co-operation was "not enough" after the weapon inspection plan was resumed.
"In view of these developments, our country supports the operation taken by U.S. and Britain this time."
Korea also expressed her support to joint air attack operation by U.S. and Britain.
Australian Prime Minister Howard said, after reading the report of UN weapon inspection team leader Bartler, he believed that U.S. and Britain had no choice but attack.
France and German expressed their regret and sorrow.
New Zealand Prime Minister Shipley made a special statement that countries all over the world could not just sit and do nothing about Hussein's continuously violation of UN resolution.
On the other hand, France indicated her regret that U.S. and Britain were forced to take this operation.
French Ministry of Foreign Affair said, it was Iraqi leader's refusal of co-operation with UN that resulted in this deeply regret ending.
German felt sorrow on this military operation. The government spokesman pointed out that German once warned Iraq that international society would not just sit and do nothing about Iraq's violation of its commitment to UN.
Philippines Accused Malaysia Attempt to Occupy Philippine Skerry and Beach
Correspondent Fillnand Reported from Manila
Philippine official thinks, in addition to China, another country that constitutes potential menace to Philippine in Nansha Islands is Malaysia.
A document of Philippine military information bureau shows that Malaysian army once tried to occupy a skerry belongs to Philippines.
This documents says, Malaysia's action of attempt to occupy this Philippine skerry may cause a security problem to Philippines. Because geographic location of this skerry is close to Palawan Island of Philippines.
This document does not explain when this happened and why Malaysian army failed in their attempt.
When interviewed by correspondents some time earlier, Philippine military officials said that Malaysia's operation of attempting occupation of this skerry happened in August, or several months before the time when Philippine navy found Chinese navy's action in Meiji reef.
They explained, due to Philippine authority's timely "persuasion", stopped Malaysia's plan in this area, but the persons of Philippine Ministry of National Defense gave no details.
Before Philippine army's revelation of Malaysia's attempting occupation of Philippine skerry, President Estrada refused army's proposal of controlling the Philippine skerry and beach.
In this same report, the army called China's construction in Meiji reefs a "springboard", it was a preparation for China's final occupation of nearby Reed beach and exploring of petroleum.
Yunnan Gardens Sells Well, Over Half of 44 Units Sold
Yunnan Gardens that was put on the market in the end last week shows a good marketing response.
By the day before yesterday, over half of 44 units, i.e. 25 units have got buyers.
Among them 19 were middle row houses at an average price of 1.06 million; the other 5 were corner row houses with an average price of 1.4 million.
Yunnan Gardens developed by Fujiang Guildhall is a land acquisition residence project with 131 units.
It is a permanent title deed for land, with an area of 1.3 million square feet, and is located at upper end of Jurong Road near Nanyang Polytechnics.
Before this, the developer had put 139 units on the market in three phases.
The earliest phase was in 1991. The first three phases have been built and in inhabitancy.
Last week, the developer, with Dai Yuxiang Real Estate Consulting Company as their agent, pushed 66 units in the fourth phase.
It includes 60 row houses, two and half foreign style houses, one independent foreign style house and three storefront houses. All of them belong to the first and second district of the fourth phase.
As compare with the price of the third phase, the prices of phase four are 30% lower.
In fact, the whole fourth phase consists of four districts, totally 174 units, including independent, semi-independent foreign style house, row houses, and storefront houses.
The development of the first two districts is estimated to be completed by March 2000.
Dai Yuxiang Real Estate Consulting Company said, the biggest feature of Yunnan Gardens land acquisition residence project is its wide front side.
Even the smallest row house can park two automobiles.
Thailand Welcomes Khieu Samphan's Surrender
Correspondent Liu Zhenting reported from Bangkok
Thailand government expressed welcome yesterday to the surrender of Red Khmer's two important members, Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea, to Phnom Penh authority.
Gusa, the spokesman of Ministry of Foreign Affair said on a press conference:" The surrender of Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea will be an important event in Cambodia's realization of national reconciliation and dedication of the ending of internal conflict. This will not only bring peace for Cambodia and also a stable regional situation as well."
Gusa reiterated that Thailand would absolutely not support any party of Cambodia to utilize Thailand for their activities of overturning neighbor countries.
If any foreign armed members were found of such activities in Thailand territory, Thailand would disarm them and dispose according to Thailand law.
He also mentioned, Thailand signed a criminal extradition agreement with Hun Sen government in May this year. Therefore, Thailand can extradite those criminals wanted by Cambodia to Phnom Penh authority for punishment according to this law.
According to Phnom Penh information sources, Thailand Foreign Minister, Doctor Surin, has invited Cambodian Foreign Minister He Nanhong to visit Bangkok at the beginning of next year to consult the issues of ensuring peace on common border and tens of thousand of Cambodian refugees who still stay in Thailand, and consider to resume offering personnel training assistance to Cambodia.
On the ASEAN summit conference held in Hanoi in the middle of this month, it was decided to accept Cambodia as the tenth member country in ASEAN, and authorized ASEAN foreign minister to prepare the official welcome ceremony in Hanoi for Cambodia's join.