China says it is ready to cooperate with Afghanistan to solve its problems; China, Australia vow to improve bilateral ties; Foreign Minister Yang: China, EU relationship off to a good start; BT network vulnerable to potential attack from China
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Whatsapp
  • Linkedin
  • Print

    • The Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Song Tao, addressing the conference on Afghanistan in Moscow organized under the auspices of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), that the SCO had devoted itself to safeguarding regional peace and stability, and that it was ready to cooperate with Afghanistan in solving its problems. Song noted that the SCO will actively cooperate with the Afghan government in fighting terrorism, drug trafficking and transnational crimes “so as to safeguard regional peace and stability.” Song called on the parties present to support the UN’s leading role in Afghanistan's reconstruction, to aid Afghanistan in its elections, and to improve and enhance regional cooperation mechanisms. The Chinese Minister stated that Beijing had also written off a loan of $75 million it had earlier provided to Afghanistan1.

    Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping meanwhile met with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith in Beijing and vowed to improve bilateral ties. Xi noted that the Chinese government always viewed China-Australia ties from the “strategic height and long-term perspective.” Xi stated that China was willing to strengthen dialogues at all levels with Australia, promote negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement, and deepen bilateral communication and cooperation in comprehensive fields on the basis of mutual respect and principle of equality and mutual benefit2.

    Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, talking to reporters on March 29 stated that the China-EU relationship got off to a good start in the current year on the back of Premier Wen Jiabao's successful visit to Europe. During his talks with Benita Ferrero-Waldner, commissioner for external relations of the European Commission, it was stressed that both EU and China had important international responsibilities in coping with the financial crisis, climate change and other global challenges3.

    In other developments, reports indicated that a new £10bn communications network being developed by British Telecom is vulnerable to a potential attack from within China as the network uses equipment supplied by the Chinese firm Huawei4. In developments relating to Tibet, even as China reiterated that it opposed the activities of the governments of any other country providing support or a platform for the Dalai Lama's secessionist activity, reports noted that the Chinese government will allow tourists to enter Tibet from April 5, 20095.

    In Taiwan-related developments, directors of major state-owned media outlets from the Chinese mainland ended a nine-day visit to Taiwan on March 27. This was the highest-level media trip to the island province. It was also reported that more than 140,000 Chinese mainland tourists visited Taiwan from July 2008 to March 20096. The World Economic Forum (WEF) on March 26 stated that Taiwan was the 13th most networked economy in the world7.

    Top