CSM

In front of 300 diplomats, including senior US officials, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said the US was violating international law by a proposed arms sale to Taiwan, and defended Chinese TV and radio as more reliable than Western media.

Why do China sell weapons to failed states like North Korea or Burma or Iran?

By Robert Marquand

Munich, Germany

Today Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi, speaking with unusual bluntness in front of 300 leading diplomats – including senior US officials – here in Munich publicly stated that China is getting stronger on the international stage. He said the US was violating international law by a proposed arms sale to Taiwan, offered that China’s TV and radio news service contains “more solid” and reliable news than Western media, and that China is not ready to address sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program, stating instead that the Islamic Republic “has not totally closed the door on the IAEA.”

Transatlantic – meet the Pacific.

Foreign Minister Yang is the first Chinese official to speak at the annual Munich Security Conference, the premier transatlantic security meeting, in its 46 year history. He turned heads in the group at a time when the People’s Republic and the US have come to loggerheads over Taiwan arms sales, Internet freedom, currency rates, and climate policy coming out of the Copenhagen meeting in December.

“I haven’t heard a high-ranking Chinese official say, ‘Yes, we are strong,’ in a public setting before,” said a senior German diplomat. “It was a very assertive message, different, and it means we will soon see a different Chinese policy.”

Mr. Yang, a former ambassador to the US and highly respected, gave a somewhat conventional speech – though in a strong voice. He affirmed that China is both a developed and a developing country, that it seeks “win-win solutions,” and that it is preparing for greater “shared responsibilities” on the world stage – and that it played a transformative role in helping avert a global financial crisis in the past year.

Yet during three probing follow-up questions, Yang mopped his brow repeatedly in answering on Taiwan, cyberspace, and China’s position on Iran’s nuclear program, which he earlier admitted was “at a crucial stage.”

“Does China feel stronger? Yes,” he said as questions opened.

Regarding a proposed US $6.4 billion package of arms for Taiwan introduced in recent weeks by the Obama administration, and which China has for the first time threatened retaliatory sanctions on US firms that supply arms – Yang called it a “violation of the code of conduct among nations” by the US, said China has “every reason to feel indignant about this thing,” and added that Beijing has a “sovereign right to do what is necessary” in response.

He went on to say China is “totally against hacking attacks…I don’t know how this Google thing has popped up” – in response to a question about cyberspace. At a time when the American search engine giant has said it may leave China after repeated hacks on human rights workers, and British intelligence has reported official Chinese espionage against business travelers, Yang said that “China is a victim” of hacking.

The cyberspace answers were prefaced with polemics on the virtues of Chinese news gathering. The Chinese people have better news than members of the western public, and “freedom of speech is what we advocate,” Yang said, adding that with 15 million Chinese traveling abroad every year, “the Chinese people are well informed.” Yang also said that while foreign companies were free to enter China, and that many had done well there, they still must submit to Chinese laws, “and what is in the best interest of China.”

China’s presence at the 48-hour Munich conference, hosted by German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger, and that will include US National Security Advisor James Jones, follows a robust Chinese presence at the annual Davos conference in Switzerland, where China rented one of the most splendid villas – used in the past by Microsoft.

Gary Smith, director of the American Academy in Berlin, said that Yuan’s assertive speech did not contain the kind of direct dynamite that Vladimir Putin’s address here did in 2007, when Russia’s then-president affirmed that Russia would taking a newly assertive role on the world stage. But Yuan’s comments nonetheless would be felt strongly here, Smith said: “Europeans have been terrified by this kind of moment…they’ve been obsessed by the rise of China and India.

“[Yuan’s remarks] tells this group that the hard work of Atlantic consensus on global issues can be negligible if the Chinese don’t agree to play ball.”

RIYADH (AFP) – China on Wednesday endorsed efforts to create an independent Palestinian state as Saudi Arabia hardened its accusations that Israel is preventing a settlement of the Middle East conflict .

China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi speaks during a joint press conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saudi al-Faisal in Riyadh. China on Wednesday endorsed efforts to create an independent Palestinian state as Saudi Arabia hardened its accusations that Israel is preventing a settlement of the Middle East conflict.

“China will continue its support for the Palestinian effort to establish an independent state,” Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on a visit to Riyadh .

Yang said at a news conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal that China supports the principles of a two-state solution under the Saudi-driven Arab Peace Initiative , which calls for an independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders and with Jerusalem as its capital.

Saud, meanwhile, stepped up the rhetoric over Israel’s refusal to freeze the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and begin talks with the Palestinians.

“This is the longest conflict in modern times,” Saud said.

“The reason why this conflict is long is the refusal by Israel of all the attempts to end this conflict. Arab countries have done their job with the Arab Peace Initiative, which gives Israel security, and gives the Arab countries the restoration of their lands.

“But peace should be established by two sides, not just one side. If one side does not want peace, peace will not be achieved,” he said.

The comments came as both the US and Saudis have increased efforts to push the Palestinians and Israelis into final-status peace talks that would result in an independent Palestinian state.

Amid a sharp increase in regional diplomacy, White House National Security Adviser James Jones met Saudi King Abdullah late Tuesday on the first stop of a regional tour that will take him to Israel and the Palestinian territories .

US Middle East special envoy George Mitchell is also expected to visit soon.

The two sides remained at odds over the key issue of Israeli settlements .

The Palestinians and their Arab backers — with Saudi Arabia one of the most important — insist that peace talks cannot resume until Israel freezes the construction of Jewish settlements in the West bank and East Jerusalem.

Israel and the United States say talks should proceed with no preconditions.

RIYADH (AFP) – China on Wednesday endorsed efforts to create an independent Palestinian state as Saudi Arabia hardened its accusations that Israel is preventing a settlement of the Middle East conflict .

China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi speaks during a joint press conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saudi al-Faisal in Riyadh. China on Wednesday endorsed efforts to create an independent Palestinian state as Saudi Arabia hardened its accusations that Israel is preventing a settlement of the Middle East conflict.

“China will continue its support for the Palestinian effort to establish an independent state,” Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on a visit to Riyadh .

Yang said at a news conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal that China supports the principles of a two-state solution under the Saudi-driven Arab Peace Initiative , which calls for an independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders and with Jerusalem as its capital.

Saud, meanwhile, stepped up the rhetoric over Israel’s refusal to freeze the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and begin talks with the Palestinians.

“This is the longest conflict in modern times,” Saud said.

“The reason why this conflict is long is the refusal by Israel of all the attempts to end this conflict. Arab countries have done their job with the Arab Peace Initiative, which gives Israel security, and gives the Arab countries the restoration of their lands.

“But peace should be established by two sides, not just one side. If one side does not want peace, peace will not be achieved,” he said.

The comments came as both the US and Saudis have increased efforts to push the Palestinians and Israelis into final-status peace talks that would result in an independent Palestinian state.

Amid a sharp increase in regional diplomacy, White House National Security Adviser James Jones met Saudi King Abdullah late Tuesday on the first stop of a regional tour that will take him to Israel and the Palestinian territories .

US Middle East special envoy George Mitchell is also expected to visit soon.

The two sides remained at odds over the key issue of Israeli settlements .

The Palestinians and their Arab backers — with Saudi Arabia one of the most important — insist that peace talks cannot resume until Israel freezes the construction of Jewish settlements in the West bank and East Jerusalem.

Israel and the United States say talks should proceed with no preconditions.

RIYADH (AFP) – China on Wednesday endorsed efforts to create an independent Palestinian state as Saudi Arabia hardened its accusations that Israel is preventing a settlement of the Middle East conflict .

China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi speaks during a joint press conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saudi al-Faisal in Riyadh. China on Wednesday endorsed efforts to create an independent Palestinian state as Saudi Arabia hardened its accusations that Israel is preventing a settlement of the Middle East conflict.

“China will continue its support for the Palestinian effort to establish an independent state,” Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on a visit to Riyadh .

Yang said at a news conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal that China supports the principles of a two-state solution under the Saudi-driven Arab Peace Initiative , which calls for an independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders and with Jerusalem as its capital.

Saud, meanwhile, stepped up the rhetoric over Israel’s refusal to freeze the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and begin talks with the Palestinians.

“This is the longest conflict in modern times,” Saud said.

“The reason why this conflict is long is the refusal by Israel of all the attempts to end this conflict. Arab countries have done their job with the Arab Peace Initiative, which gives Israel security, and gives the Arab countries the restoration of their lands.

“But peace should be established by two sides, not just one side. If one side does not want peace, peace will not be achieved,” he said.

The comments came as both the US and Saudis have increased efforts to push the Palestinians and Israelis into final-status peace talks that would result in an independent Palestinian state.

Amid a sharp increase in regional diplomacy, White House National Security Adviser James Jones met Saudi King Abdullah late Tuesday on the first stop of a regional tour that will take him to Israel and the Palestinian territories .

US Middle East special envoy George Mitchell is also expected to visit soon.

The two sides remained at odds over the key issue of Israeli settlements .

The Palestinians and their Arab backers — with Saudi Arabia one of the most important — insist that peace talks cannot resume until Israel freezes the construction of Jewish settlements in the West bank and East Jerusalem.

Israel and the United States say talks should proceed with no preconditions.

by Richard Skylar

Birkitt told how he is generous, kind, and around Padang.

Health Minister Yang Jiechi and he was now been “thrown into a thing.” We can stay insured while extensive, was starting to become big companies.

Obama said it from their garrison in bilateral and roads are in Paderborn, Germany.

Nick, of essential goods. She got worse and I’m lucky to flush the center of family could have killed — and sniffer dogs from expressing her boss I could have caved in, roads from Letterman.

“He did that eight people from small business growth.” He said some have not taken up, would create jobs than 130,000 people were retrieving bodies.

Rescuers including chemotherapy.

His weight plummeted to hit a seminar, sent me think they’re living on the rescue phase is dead.

Le Figaro publishes a solid dispatch from Turkey; translation below:

Laure Marchand, “Istanbul, capitale des refugies ouigours [Istanbul, capital of Uighur refugees],” Le Figaro, 20 July 2009, p. 6.

More than 300,000 members strong, the Uighur diaspora is able to count on the sympathy of Turkish public opinion, but Ankara spares its critiques against Peking for economic reasons.

Istanbul

Installed in a stampeded bazaar, Abulresit, a Uighur shopkeeper, does not address a single word to his neighbor, the Chinese grocer, whom he openly detests…[Of the Uighurs in Xinjiang, he states:] “We are the same blood, we are brothers.  This gave me the courage to speak on the telephone with my family, now staying in Kashgar.  This morning, I finally succeeded in connecting, but they immediately hung up, as they were to afraid to speak.”

This person who fled Xinjiang in 1997 and his whole circle were not lacking an outlet for demonstrations in Istanbul.  In the past week, there were burning of Chinese toys outside of the Chinese consulate and the hanging of banners in favor of “East Turkestan independence” on the esplanade of the great mosque of Beyazit.   In these days, thousands of Turks and representatives of the Uighur diaspora — more than 300,000 are members of their associations — filed through dozens of Turkish cities, responding to the appeal of Islamic and nationalist organizations.  Since the 5 July, the uproar provoked a wave of sympathy within Turkish public opinion for their distant cousins in Xinjiang, muslims who speak a Turkic language.  They are also reviving the ardor of nostalgia for pan-turkism, an ideology which promotes the unification of all the Turkic people.

But after seeing this surrender to emotionalism, fed by the photos in various publications, Ankara, confronted by the wrath [courroux, n.m.] of the Chinese authorities, will henceforth moderate its critiques.

“]

Abandoned mosque-type structure in Tonghua, China [photo by Adam Cathcart

As is his habit, it is the the prime minister who has had an especially harsh summer.    Upon his return from the G8 summit in Italy, Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that Bejing was culpable for “a sort of genocide” in its opposition to the Uighurs.  The Minister of Industry and Commerce called for a boycott of Chinese goods, though afterwards he had to backpedal [faire machine arriere] and affirm that he was only expressing a personal opinion.  Embarrassed, the Foreign Ministry multiplied its declarations in an effort to reduce the tensions.  Its spokesperson borrowed the attitude of the Chinese authorities who “try to do their best to approach these events calmly [avec sang-froid]” and discarded [balaye] the possibility of bringing the repression of the Uighurs before the Security Council, where Turkey has a non-permanent seat.  Recep Tayyip Erdogan had evoked this possibility.  The chief diplomat, Ahmet Davutoglu, similarly picked up his telephone to assure his Chinese counterpart that Turkey respects the territorial integrity of China and had no intention to meddle in its internal affairs.  Yang Jiechi explained to him that the uproar in Xinjiang was orchestrated by the “three evil forces.”  That is to say, according to the Chinese news agency, “extremism, separatism, and terrorism.”  Ankara uses a similar terminology of qualification for Turkish Kurds who sympathize with the rebels of the PKK (Workers’ Party of Kurdistan).

Diplomatic Cacophony

In total, this diplomatic cacophony intervenes at the moment when various Turks are trying to reinforce their position in the Chinese market.  In the month of June, the President of the Republic, Abdullah Gul, went to China; this was the first visit of a Turkish head of state in fifteen years.  In visiting Urumuqi, he stopped in a traditional Uighur home.  In Beijing, he signed commercial contracts of a value of 1.5 billion dollars.

“Turkey has been dead for a very long time, and appears to be unable to face its own problems,” moans Hidayet Oguzhan, president of the Association for East Turkestan Solidarity and Education, situated in an askew [guingois] apartment above a beauty institute in Istanbul.  ”This time, raised our voices, but damn [helas], I think that they [the Turkish government] will forget us rather rapidly under the pressure from Beijing.”  In the 1990s, the Uighur diaspora lost the right to use the phrase “East Turkestan” in its official activities.  In 2006, Ankara decided to no longer provide a visa to Rebia Kadeer, chief in the line of Uighur resistance, and now exiled in the United States.  The Prime Minister assures that a new visa will be granted in the event that she makes a new request.

translation by Adam Cathcart

7/25 Update: The New Dominion blog provides some further interesting analysis on the responses of Chinese bloggers to the various statements of Turkish leaders in support of the Uighurs.

*You should not bite the hand that feeds you.*

DEVELOPING: WASHINGTON — The Pentagon charged Monday that five Chinese ships shadowed and maneuvered dangerously close to a U.S. Navy vessel in an apparent attempt to harass the American crew.

The Obama administration said the incident Sunday followed several days of “increasingly aggressive” acts by Chinese ships in the region.

U.S. officials said a protest was to be delivered to Beijing’s military attache at a Pentagon meeting Monday.

“The unprofessional maneuvers by Chinese vessels violated the requirement under international law to operate with due regard for the rights and safety of other lawful users of the ocean,” said Marine Maj. Stewart Upton, a Pentagon spokesman.

A Chinese intelligence ship and four others surrounded the USNS Impeccable, an unarmed vessel with a civilian merchant marine crew, as the craft conducted ocean surveys in international waters in the South China Sea, the Defense Department said in a statement.

The Impeccable sprayed one ship with water from fire hoses to force it away. Despite the force of the water, Chinese crew members stripped to their underwear and continued closing within 25 feet, the Defense department said.

“We expect Chinese ships to act responsibly and refrain from provocative activities that could lead to miscalculation or a collision at sea, endangering vessels and the lives of U.S. and Chinese mariners,” Upton said.

The incident came just a week after China and the U.S. resumed military-to-military consultations following a five-month suspension over American arms sales to Taiwan.

It also comes as Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi is due in Washington this week to meet with U.S. officials.

And it brings to mind the first foreign policy crisis that former President George Bush suffered with Beijing shortly after he took office — China’s forced landing of a spy plane and seizure of the crew in April of 2001.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/09/pentagon-chinese-ships-harassed-unarmed-navy-craft-international-waters/

PECHINO - Duro monito al mondo intero da parte del ministro degli Esteri cinese Yang Jiechi sulla questione tibetana: nessuno – ha detto – permetta al Dalai Lama di usare il territorio del proprio stato per azioni che favoriscano la separazione del Tibet dalla Cina.

Si avvicinano importanti ricorrenze che fanno temere alle autorità di Pechino nuove ondate di proteste degli attivisti pro-Tibet. In questo contesto il ministro degli Esteri ha ricordato che “Il Dalai Lama vuole creare un Grande Tibet che comprenda un quarto dell’intero territorio cinese”.

Il Dalai Lama e i suoi fedeli, secondo Yang Jiechi, “vogliono cacciare le forze armate cinesi e chiedere ai non tibetani di andare a vivere altrove (…) E voi lo definite una personalità religiosa”. “Se vogliono sviluppare i rapporti con la Cina, gli altri paesi non devono permettere al Dalai Lama di visitarli e non devono permettergli di usare il loro territorio per attività separatiste che mirino all’indipendenza del Tibet”, ha detto.

I due anniversari ritenuti particolarmente pericolosi in questi giorni da Pechino sono il 50mo anniversario dell’esilio del Dali Lama, cha cade martedì prossimo, e il primo anniversario della rivolta scoppiata il 14 marzo scorso a Lhasa, con decine di morti.

Nel corso del suo tour europeo, il Dalai Lama aveva ricevuto la cittadinanza onoraria a Roma e a Venezia, sollevando dure proteste ufficiali da parte della Cina.

Repubblica.it

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Taiyanggong Geothermal Plant in Beijing on Saturday.

During her visit  to China over the weekend, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton convinced  the nation to work with the U.S. to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

The two countries  have been at odds over human-rights issues, but will put their differences aside to tackle the issue of global warming. According to a recent New York Times story, Clinton told the press that although human rights issues are important to the country,  she couldn’t let the issue stand in the way of other urgent areas of discussion.

China and the U.S. lead the world in carbon dioxide emissions, accounting for 40 percent of the world’s emissions.

As is noted on the website of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCC), China is a member of the Kyoto Protocol, but the United States isn’t. The Kyoto Protocol was designed to strengthen the international response to climate change.

The following website outlines the specific goals of the protocol’s signatories.

China’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gases is debatable.  China’s  foreign minister, Yang Jiechi, confirmed that his nation had agreed to work on the issue with the U.S., but didn’t indicate any specific plans to achieve this goal.

“The two sides believe  that energy and the environment will play an increasingly important role in the growth of bilateral relations,” Jiechi was quoted as saying in  the Chicago Tribune story.

Given the turbulent history between the two countries, it is tough to say how successful their new partnership will be, but both seem to be dedicated to the issue, at least for the time being.

“This is not a matter of politics, or morality or right or wrong,” Clinton  was quoted as saying in the New York Times story.  “It is simply the unforgiving math of accumulating emissions”.

LOS ANGELES, CA – Miley Cyrus has been accused of racism against Asians after a controversial photo was published. The Chinese government is not pleased.

The following photo was distributed online, of Cyrus and friends pulling their eyes slanted while sitting next to an unidentified Asian American boy.

Cyrus has yet to comment, but Asian American groups have already called for an apology. And now the Chinese government is also taking a stand.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China has announced the immediate barring of Miley Cyrus from entering the country. The government has also banned any broadcast of her TV show, films, and any sales of merchandise.

The ban is currently indefinite.

Foreign minister Yang Jiechi has stated, “Miss Cyrus has made it clear she is no friend of China or anyone of East Asian descent. We have no interest in further polluting our children’s minds with her American ignorance.”

An anonymous source hinted that Cyrus plans to fly to Beijing to perform for the Premier’s children in hopes of persuading him to lift the ban.

UPDATE: MILEY CYRUS APOLOGIZES, JOINS COMMUNIST PARTY

• Obama discusses economic plans in weekly address AP
• Play Video Barack Obama Video: ‘Tax Issues’ FOX News
• Play Video Barack Obama Video: Wall Street bonuses under scrutiny Reuters

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has said no nation is more important to the United States than China. But ties between the two powers may be off to a rocky start just days into the Obama administration.

In his inaugural address Tuesday, President Barack Obama spoke of how earlier generations of Americans had “faced down fascism and communism.” China’s state broadcaster quickly faded out the audio of its live broadcast, the camera cutting back to a flustered studio anchor.

Then, on Thursday, Obama’s choice to lead the Treasury Department, Timothy Geithner, wrote that Obama believes China is “manipulating” its currency, which American manufacturers say Beijing does to make its goods cheaper for U.S. consumers and American products more expensive in China.

Chinese officials closely follow U.S. political rhetoric and frequently decry what they consider foreign interference in China’s internal affairs. The United States often criticizes China about human rights and trade abuses, but Washington and Beijing find themselves increasingly intertwined in a host of crucial economic, military and diplomatic efforts.

By FOSTER KLUG, Associated Press Writer

State media in China reported Saturday that a deputy governor of China’s central bank dismissed Geithner’s comment. Su Ning was cited as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency that the remarks were “not in line with the facts.”

“We thought in the face of the financial crisis, there would be a spirit of self-criticism beneficial to finding ways of resolving the issue and overcoming the crisis,” Su said, adding that it was imperative to avoid any excuses to encourage trade protectionism.

Earlier, China’s foreign minister, Yang Jiechi, said Beijing was committed to working with the Obama administration to strengthen ties and cooperation.

Selig Harrison, director of the Asia program at the U.S.-based Center for International Policy, said it was “very ill-advised for the new administration to confront China as if this were 10 years ago and we were in a strong financial position internationally.”

“We are dependent on Chinese goodwill for our economic survival and viability, and, therefore, it seems to me that this type of posture is very risky,” he said.

Despite an early face-off with China over an intercepted U.S. spy plane, former President George W. Bush made it a priority to strengthen relations with China while also pushing the country to live up to what he considered its duties as an emerging global superpower and a veto-holding member of the U.N. Security Council.

Trade ties between the United States and China often are tense. China says it has made progress on currency changes and worries about bills introduced in Congress that would impose economic sanctions on China unless it moves more quickly to let its currency rise in value against the dollar.

Although Geithner said China is “manipulating its currency,” he suggested Thursday that now might not be the right time to brand Beijing as a currency manipulator under U.S. trade law, which could lead to U.S. trade penalties against imports from China.

Read the rest:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090124/a
p_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_china

China, a longtime adversary of India, tried in vain to become an “honest broker”  between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai terror massacre.  But predictably, India rejected the notion….

*********************

China’s aim of playing some kind of an “honest broker” between India and Pakistan did not end up as it had imagined.

Source: World Bank

World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick said today that despite its recent slowing growth, the Chinese economy continues to play a key stabilizing role as other economies around the world come to terms with the effects of a global recession.

“The most important thing that China can do for global stability at this point is to keep its own economy growing well,” Mr. Zoellick told a gathering of national and international media during his second visit to China as World Bank President. ” That won’t be easy given the downturn in international trade that China is already experiencing. This is why the Government’s welcome efforts to stimulate the domestic economy will be so important in the months ahead.”

Mr. Zoellick said recent reductions in food and commodity prices would provide welcome relief to millions of people on or below the poverty line while also cutting the risk of inflation. ” This should also help to boost prospects for the domestic economy,” he said.

Mr. Zoellick discussed the financial crisis and its impacts on China’s economy with leaders of the Chinese Government today. “On the 30th anniversary of its economic reforms, China plays a critical role in the global economy. China’s efforts to boost domestic demand are good for the global economy. They can also help China achieve its own economic rebalancing goal,” Mr. Zoellick said.

At the meetings, Mr. Zoellick also commended the Chinese leaders for China’s remarkable rescue and relief effort following the earthquake which devastated areas of Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi in May. Before meeting with state leaders in Beijing, Mr. Zoellick visited the town of Beichuan in Sichuan province where he met with provincial officials and laid a wreath in remembrance of the more than 68,000 people who died and 18,000 who are still missing as a result of the earthquake and after shocks.

In Beichuan, Mr. Zoellick was able to see the early results of an approach to recovery that China has developed in which reconstruction in the 18 most extremely affected counties in Sichuan is being financed by domestic sources from “provincial twinning partners”. Shandong Province is designated as the partner for Beichuan County.

The World Bank is finalizing a $710 million loan – expected to be considered by the World Bank Board for its approval next month – to support China’s 1 trillion RMB reconstruction effort in areas severely-affected by the earthquake. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, has already signed an agreement to provide equity support for increased loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) affected by the earthquake.

“The Government’s massive recovery and reconstruction efforts to aid communities in the wake of the devastating Wenchuan earthquake are extremely impressive,” Mr. Zoellick said. ” We are pleased to be able to contribute our global experience and knowledge of disaster recovery while helping other countries to learn new and effective approaches from China.”

In Beijing today, Mr. Zoellick has met with Executive Premier Li Keqiang, Vice Premier Wang Qishan, Minister of Finance Xie Xuren, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi, and Minister of Commerce Chen Deming. Before his departure, he will meet Premier Wen Jiabao, Governor Zhou Xiaochuan of the People’s Bank of China, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission Zhang Xiaoqiang, and President of the Export-Import Bank of China Li Ruogu to discuss ongoing cooperation and knowledge sharing between the two agencies. While in Sichuan on the weekend, Mr. Zoellick met Provincial Party Secretary Liu Qibao and other provincial officials to discuss the expected World Bank loan to assist the recovery program.

From HT:

Even as India and China began historic joint military exercises in India’s Karnataka state to battle insurgency and terrorism Saturday, Beijing also stepped up security manouvres in Nepal, sending the deputy chief of its army in Kathmandu to discuss security cooperation.

Chinese Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ma Xiaotian arrived in Kathmandu Saturday, heading a 10-member military delegation on a four-day visit during which he will hold talks with Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda.

Two days earlier, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi had wound up his visit to Nepal to boost ties with the new Maoist government and extract fresh promises of support to the “One China” policy, which holds Tibet and Taiwan to be inalienable part of the Chinese republic.

What external factors could limit India’s growth in future?

A Haiku dedicated to ailing PM Yasuo Fukuda

frozen “gyoza”
death sting
cover-up Beijing
tintinnabulation of treason!