Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in Beijing, called for the establishment of new rules to guide the international financial system. Appealing to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to step in and play a decisive role in tackling the global financial crisis, Premier Wen also proposed increasing the participation of developing countries in international financial organizations, as well as strengthening the supervisory mechanisms of the international financial system1.

Liu Guijin, the Chinese government’s special representatives for the Darfur issue, arrived in Khartoum in the previous week. This was Liu’s fifth visit to Darfur, after his appointment to the present post in May 2007. Stating that his visit was a “follow-up” to the visit of Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai Jun to Sudan last month, Liu appreciated the Sudanese government’s steps for resolving the Darfur issue2.

Chinese President Hu Jintao meanwhile expressed his desire to push the Sino-German relationship to a new level. While meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Hu expressed satisfaction that ties between the two countries were progressing despite the global financial crisis. Merkel was in Beijing to attend the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)3.

• 1. “Wen calls for restructuring of global system,” People’s Daily, October 27, 2008, at http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90785/6521604.html
• 2. “Chinese special representative for Darfur arrives in Sudan,” People’s Daily, October 25, 2008, at http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/6521207.html
• 3. “China, Germany vow to push ahead healthy bilateral ties,” People’s Daily, October 24, 2008, at http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/6520825.html