lersus

For his part, Zuma said Jia\’s visit was of great significance to boost bilateral relationship and called on both sides to take the opportunity of the visit to expand substantial cooperation and bring bilateral strategic partnership to a new high.

Zuma spoke highly of China\’s efforts to deal with climate change, saying that China played an important role in producing the positive outcome from the Copenhagen climate change conference last December.

The South African president expected his country, China and other developing countries to increase communication and coordination so as to make the upcoming international climate change conference in Mexico yield results in favor of developing countries.

Zuma appreciated China\’s selfless help and generous support to African people in their pursuit of national justice and country development.

Jia started his visit to South Africa from the country\’s resort city of Cape Town on Sunday.

In Cape Town, Jia held talks with Mninwa Mahlangu, chairman of the National Council of Provinces of South Africa. The two leaders agreed on furthering the exchanges between the CPPCC and the National Council of Provinces of South Africa.

Source: Xinhua
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Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Tuesday met with Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf, complimenting the Swedish royal family for their contributions to promoting relations between Sweden and China.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf in Stockholm, Sweden, March 30, 2010. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)
At the beginning of the meeting, Xi conveyed Chinese President Hu Jintao\’s compliments and best regards to the Swedish king, for which the Swedish king expressed his gratitude.

Xi said that 60 years ago Sweden led many Western countries in taking the initiative to establish diplomatic ties with the new China, a move which the Chinese government and people always highly appreciate.

Thanks to concerted efforts by both sides in more than half a century, the Sino-Swedish relationship has reached a mature phase featured with frequent exchange of high-level visits, steady increase in mutual political trust, close trade and economic ties, mutually beneficial cooperation in science and technology, education, culture and environment protection, and active interactions at the local government level and between the two peoples, Xi said.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to develop friendly and cooperative ties with Sweden and highly values the active role Sweden plays in EU and international affairs, the Chinese vice president said.

He said that the Swedish royal family has devoted themselves to promoting Swedish-Chinese exchange and friendship and made great contributions to the development of relations between the two countries.

Xi said that he hopes the king and other members of the Swedish royal family will continue to make efforts to pass the Swedish- Chinese friendship from generation to generation.

The Swedish king said that he is pleased to see that the two countries have close political and economic links and engage in good cooperation in a wide range of areas including eco-city building and sustainable development.

The cooperation documents the two countries have signed will certainly help promote the development of bilateral ties, said the king. He said that he anticipates his planned visit to China and participation in Shanghai EXPO activities with a view of pushing forward the Swedish-Chinese relations.

After the meeting, the king gave a banquet in honor of the visiting Chinese vice president.

On Tuesday morning, Xi paid a visit to an eco-city in the Swedish capital city of Stockholm and the Confucius Institute of the Stockholm University.

Xi left here for home on Tuesday afternoon after winding up his four-day visit to Sweden, the last leg of his four-nation tour, which also took him to Russia, Belarus and Finland.

Source: Xinhua

Tourists take pictures of the Little Mermaid statue just before it was moved from Copenhagen harbor March 25, 2010. The statue, in memory of fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen, is being shipped to Shanghai where it will be on display in the Danish pavilion at Expo 2010.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Denmark\’s iconic "Little Mermaid" statue arrived in Shanghai Friday for display at the World Expo, which opens next month.

After arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 3 p.m., the box housing the "Little Mermaid" was carried directly to a warehouse under Customs\’ supervision.

The Customs authorities will not open the box until about April 25, when the "Little Mermaid" will officially move to her new home in Shanghai, the Denmark Pavilion at the Expo site, according to the Bureau of
Shanghai World Expo
Coordination.

It is the first time for the 1.5-meter landmark, which commemorates Danish fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen, has left her perch at Copenhagen harbor in almost 100 years.

"I have been looking forward to seeing her with my own eyes," said 56-year-old Zhang Zexiang, a construction worker at the Denmark Pavilion.

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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton claimed Monday that China would be involved in considering a fourth round of sanctions against Tehran, AFP reported.

"I think, as the weeks go forward and we begin the hard work of trying to come up with a Security Council resolution, China will be involved. They will be making their suggestions," Clinton told CTV, a Canadian television station, in an interview.

She was attending a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Group of Eight industrialized countries.
"As in any effort, we\’re going to have to try to come to some consensus and we\’re in the middle of that process," she said.

The US, France, Britain and Germany have been pushing hard for a new round of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, which Western nations alleged is a cover for producing atomic weapons.
A Chinese official last week joined a conference call with other nations to dis-cuss a US proposal on sanctions, AFP reported.

While the group did not agree on a specific proposal, another conference call is expected in the coming days as diplomats try to close the gaps, US officials said.

Source: Global Times – Agencies

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Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping called on Monday for expanding Sino-Swedish cooperation to new areas when he held talks with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt in Stockholm, Sweden, March 29, 2010. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)
Xi said that relations between China and Sweden have maintained a good momentum of development with frequent exchange of visits at high levels, and close and active cooperation in trade and investment, environment protection, education, science and technology, culture and other fields.

He said that his current visit to Sweden is meant to jointly celebrate the 60th anniversary of the two countries\’ establishment of diplomatic relations, with a view of further promoting practical cooperation between China and Sweden.

To expand the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, Xi said, both sides should strengthen dialogue at high levels, deepen trade and economic ties and increase people-to- people contact.

He said that China welcomes Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf to attend the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of China and Sweden establishing diplomatic ties when the king visits the Shanghai EXPO, which is slated to open on May 1.

The Chinese side is willing to use the existing channels of dialogue to enhance mutual political trust and exchange views with the Swedish side on bilateral relations, international political and economic situations, the climate change, non-traditional security matters and other major world and regional issues, Xi said.

Sweden has for long been pursuing the one-China police and has always supported China on issues related with Tibet and Taiwan, he said, China appreciates it and hopes Sweden will continue with it.

Sino-Swedish cooperation can expand from the traditional areas of machinery building, car manufacturing, telecommunications, forest industry, household electric appliance and textiles to the new fields of eco-city construction, energy-saving and environment- protecting technology, biology research and banking, Xi said.

China will renew the agreement on cultural exchange with Sweden, continue to support Chinese language teaching in Sweden and Confucius Institute improvement projects, encourage young people from both sides to participate more in exchange programs and increase the number of scholarships and government grants to students, the Chinese vice president said.

China welcomes Sweden to make good use of the opportunities offered by the Shanghai EXPO and the 60th anniversary of the two countries\’ establishment of diplomatic ties to hold exhibitions and performances in China to promote the mutual understanding and friendship among the peoples of Sweden and China, Xi said.

Xi also expounded the principles held by China on the international financial crisis, the Doha round of WTO trade negotiations, the climate change, human rights dialogue as well as China\’s stand on further developing Sino-European relations.

Reinfeldt said that Sweden, one of the Western countries which established diplomatic ties with China early in the 1950s, has been enjoying a friendly and cooperative relationship with China over the past 60 years and that the bilateral relations have been witnessing a rapid growth in recent years.

Eleven visits to China have been made by ministers in the current Swedish government and Swedish exports to China increased 21 percent in 2009 when the entire world was adversely affected by the international financial crisis, the Swedish prime minister said.

The Swedish side believes that efforts made by the Chinese delegation at the Copenhagen climate change conference are positive, and his country is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in the coming 60 years in economy, technological innovation, environment protection, the climate change, urban development and human rights, Reinfeldt said.

A new mechanism for economic cooperation should be put in place to keep the current momentum of development of relations between Sweden and China, he said.

After their talks, the two leaders met the press and attended a signing ceremony for cooperation documents.

Source: Xinhua

Malacanang said on Sunday that an " ignorant yahoo" like U.S. comedian Adam Carolla does not deserve any response from the Philippine government for his disparaging remarks against boxing champ Manny Pacquaio and the Filipino people.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Gary Olivar made the statement in a radio interview when asked to comment on the racist comments made by Carolla against Pacquiao whom he described as "illiterate", and the Philippines which he said only offered "sex tours."

"An ignorant yahoo like this guy, what\’s his name? Adam something. He does himself no credit with those kinds of comments. The significance of what he is saying amounts to absolutely zero and therefore we do not even wish or expect an apology from him… .He is a non-entity. He is a member of the sick minority and he does not even deserve to be commented on or reacted to by our people," he said.

Olivar noted that "the vast majority of the American people like the vast majority of Filipinos are deeper and well intentioned and sincere people" but in any country, there are " exemptions to the rule and unfortunately that sick minority in this case includes a yahoo."

Source: Xinhua

A group of Buddhist monks led by Sri Lanka\’s leftist party JVP or the People\’s Liberation Party started fast unto death on Saturday demanding an early release of the detained former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, officials from the JVP told reporters.

The officials said the monks will continue the fast unto death until the government gives an assurance on Fonseka\’s release.

The monks, who are taking part in the campaign in Colombo\’s business district said Fonseka\’s life is under threat as he needs frequent medical advice after he was exposed to a suicide bomb blast of the rebels at the Army Headquaters in Colombo in 2006.

Fonseka, who was defeated at the January presidential polls, is contesting the parliamentary polls on April 8 from the JVP led Democratic National Alliance.

He is in military custody for participating in political activities while in uniform as well as wrongdoings in arms procurement.

Meawhile, the government said it would take full responsibility of Fonseka\’s health and Navy medical specialists have been assigned to look after his health following a request made by his wife Anoma Fonseka.

Anoma, who is permitted to visit Fonseka has complained to Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya that Fonseka was ill and needed special care.

But military spokesman Prasad Samarasingha has disputed her claims saying Fonseka is in good health and he is being given all required medical facilities.

Source:Xinhua

The ancient Inca ruins site Machu Picchu was chosen as the symbol of the 40th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde said on Friday.

The meeting will be held on June 6-8 at Lima\’s National Museum, which also hosted the fifth European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean (EU-LAC) Summit in May 2008.

"Machu Picchu, as expected, will be the symbol of the 40th OAS General Assembly," Garcia told the OAS Permanent Council in Washington, local media reported.

Garcia told the OAS members that his country will fulfill all the standards to host the Assembly, which will focus on limiting arms buildup and allotment of more resources to address social problems.

Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, reopened to visitors Thursday after a two-month closure due to a storm.

Source: Xinhua

Turkey would never turn its back on Asia or Africa, Turkish prime minister was quoted by the semi- official Anatolia news agency as saying here on Saturday.

"We cannot turn our back on Asia or Africa," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in his statement at the general assembly of the Independent Industrialists\’ and Businessmen\’s Association in Istanbul.

"We cannot be indifferent or distant to them. This country has turned its face towards the West, but it is an inseparable part of the East with its history, culture and civilization," he added.

Erdogan said his government had initiated efforts to clear away the meaningless distance between Turkey and the Arab countries.

He added that visa procedures were lifted with 23 countries during the past several years.

As to Turkey\’s EU bid, he said his country would continue to work hard in order to reach universal and modern standards no matter what obstacles were put on its way.

Source:Xinhua

U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Ekinberry has sought explanation from Afghan President Hamid Karzai over his remarks that foreigners were behind widespread fraud in presidential election held in last August, a private television channel reported Saturday.

"American ambassador has sought explanation from President Karzai," Tolo television broadcast in its news bulletin.

The Afghan president, during a visit to the Election Commission office on Thursday, accused western officials and embassies of engineering "widespread fraud in last year\’s presidential election which had drawn national and international criticism.

However, President Karzai\’s main challenger in the polls rejected the allegations, saying the president himself engineered the vote rigging.

Source: Xinhua