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In a significant development Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Chen Bingde arrived Washington for a week-long official visit to the United States. In a written statement issued at the airport, Chen said ‘maintaining a healthy, stable and dependable China-US military-to-military relationship, which is an important part of the overall bilateral ties, will provide a positive push for the China-US relations to develop steadily in a long run’. 1
On the other hand a new rail connection for cargo between Antwerp in Belgium and Southwest China’s Chongqing. The first train on this rail was launched from the Antwerp port to Chongqing, signaling the official opening of the rail line. 2
In another development the most senior official of the European Union (EU) started his first official visit to China. He asserted that this visit is to seek closer trade and political ties with Beijing needed for a stronger Europe. Herman Van Rompuy said “I come here as a friend of China with respect and trust, and a strong conviction in honest dialogue”.3
The Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with his Kazakh counterpart Yerzhan Kazykhanov on bilateral cooperation. Yang said that “the strategic partnership between China and Kazakhstan is now developing comprehensively and rapidly”.4 On the other hand China, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, all member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), conducted a joint anti-terror drill in Kashi of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. 5
Meanwhile Beijing expressed its satisfaction about the accomplishments made during the third round of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) held in Washington from May 9 to 10, 2011. 6
In other developments, the second meeting on Nepal-China's Tibet Trade Facilitation Committee (NTTFC) was concluded last week. The meeting commonly accepted that as "Nepal-China trade talk" in Nepal is aimed to enhance bilateral trade between the two countries.7
- 1. “Senior Chinese military official visits US” China Daily, May 16, 2011 at http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-05/16/content_12518122.htm
- 2. “Belgium-China rail connection opens” China Daily, May 5, 2011 at http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-05/10/content_12481084.htm
- 3. “EU president seeks closer ties with China” China Daily, May 15, 2011 at http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-05/15/content_12513281.htm
- 4. “Chinese, Kazakh FMs pledge to cement ties” China Daily, May 14, 2011 at http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-05/14/content_12511757.htm
- 5. “China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan stage joint anti-terror drill”, China Daily, May 7, 2011 at http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-05/07/content_12463459.htm
- 6. “China satisfied about China-US dialogue outcomes” China Daily, May 14, 2011 at http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011sinousdialogue/2011-05/14/content...
- 7. “Nepal-China meeting on Tibet trade begins in Nepal” China Daily, May 9, 2011 at http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2011-05/09/content_12472388.htm