Are China and Cuba setting up a contingency plan in case of Castro’s death?
He did not mince his words, arguing that the United States must be prepared to intervene within hours of Castro's death to prevent his compinches — his accomplices — from cementing their hold on power. #msg-2991903
China was also trying to influence El Salvador’s March 21 elections, but missed. China is getting as close as possible to the United States and has made moves in Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, the Panama Canal and Canada. Probably more to this list. #msg-2572920 #msg-2488765 #msg-3521633 #msg-3574322
China is rapidly gaining influence over Canada and I would think Cuba would be another very desirable country in which to exert control in our near abroad. #msg-4128063
-Am
China to consolidate ties with Cuba: Chinese president
www.chinaview.cn 2004-09-25 18:45:59
BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Saturday that China has set an unswerving policy on consolidating ties with Cuba, and the policy will not alter regardless of changes in international situation.
Hu made the remarks at a meeting with Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and vice president of the Council of State of Cuba.
With concerted efforts, China believes the bilateral friendship between China and Cuba would be developed better, said Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
In recent years, China and Cuba, as well as the Communist parties of China and Cuba, frequented exchange of high-profile visits, enhanced mutual trust and expanded cooperation in various fields, said Hu.
As both parties adhere to socialism, explore the path of development fit for their own national conditions and are devoted to economic development to improve the people's living standards, there is a solid foundation for further cementing China-Cuba ties,Hu said.
Hu valued the achievements made by the Communist Party of Cuba,led by Fidel Castro Ruz, in leading the Cuban people to pushing forward the socialist cause.
Machado said that the two parties and two peoples supported each other in building socialism and closely cooperated in international issues, which greatly contributed to world peace anddevelopment.
The Cuban people admired the achievements of the Chinese people,Machado said, adding that Cuba is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in all fields. Enditem
China has again overtaken the United States as a top global destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) last year, a UN report said yesterday.p> China had replaced the US as the world's largest FDI recipient in 2002 for the first time. #msg-4106342
And now China is investing overseas in a big way.
See also: China’s control of mining and subversion of Canada #msg-4128063
Financial leverage is the most powerful tool a country can wield and Bush is being beaten every step of the way. For the first time in a long while the world has a new leader to follow, an alternative choice.
This in part can be attributed to China’s rapacious appetite for oil and resources.
Even long time ally Australia is reconsidering its relationship with China.
The Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has indicated the United States should not assume it will have Australia's support if China launches an attack against Taiwan.
Speaking to reporters in Beijing Mr Downer explained he believes Australia is moving into a more strategic relationship China.
"Diplomatic relations between countries evolve, rather than change by gigantic steps and what we are seeing is a significant development in that I think China has seen Australia in years gone by as an important economic partner and a less important political and strategic partner and I think now there is a recognition by the Chinese leadership of the significant role that Australia plays in the region." #msg-3839355
Bush has done a commendable job instilling fear in Americans as he coaxes them to focus only on his War on Terror while the real war, the one that should strike terror in the hearts of U.S. citizens, he has masterfully hidden. History will record Bush as the most incompetent of leaders for under his tenure the scepter of power has been passed to China.
-Am
The Dragon invests in the world
BEIJING - China is investing overseas in a big way, especially when it comes to its Asian neighbors. In Japan and South Korea it has snapped up ailing companies, such South Korea's ailing oil refinery Inchon. Chinese direct investment in Vietnam hit US$4 billion in July. But the Dragon roams widely. By the end of 2003, total direct investment by 3,439 Chinese enterprises reached $33.4 billion (276 billion yuan), with investment scattered across 139 countries and regions.
China's total net direct investment overseas stood at $33.2 billion. State-owned enterprises accounted for 43% of overseas investment; liability limited companies, 22%; joint-stock companies, 11%; private enterprises, 10%; joint-stock cooperatives, 4%; collective enterprises, 2%; foreign-funded firms, 5%; and others, 3%.
The figures were part of the statistics report on China's Direct Investment Overseas in 2003 (non-financial part), issued jointly by the Ministry of Commerce and the National Bureau of Statistics. This was the first such written report released in China.
More than 70% of the investments were concentrated in manufacturing, wholesale and retail. The report indicates that 12% of the investors were central enterprises and the rest local. They were scattered across 36 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and cities under central planning as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corp.
The biggest coverage of Chinese investment was in Asia, which received 50% of the investments. More than 80% of Asian countries and regions were the recipients of that investment. Hong Kong, the United States and Japan were areas with the highest concentration of investment, accounting for 41% of the total.
Forms of investment were diversified, with reinvestment of profits accounting for 35% of total direct overseas investment; purchases accounted for 18%; stock investment, 14%; and other forms, 33%. The report also ranks the related economic indices of the top 20 domestic enterprises in terms of net value of investment, sales (business) revenue and total assets of overseas enterprises; and ranks the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities along with the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corp in terms of net value of direct investment overseas.
Trade with Vietnam to reach $5 billion Given the current rate of two-way trade between China and Vietnam, the two nations may reach $5 billion in trade turnover this year, a target initially set for 2005. Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan announced this at a recent workshop in Hanoi, focusing on the economic relationship between the two countries.
Khoan also said he expects the figure to climb to $10 billion by 2010. Leaders from both nations have conducted regular meetings to develop comprehensive economic ties. The upcoming visit by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to Vietnam would mark a new milestone between the two countries' relationship, he said.
Besides trade cooperation, China has helped Vietnam to recover, expand and upgrade a series of metallurgy plants and chemical manufacturing factories. Chinese businesses are helping to develop several infrastructure and electricity projects as well as investing in nearly 300 projects throughout Vietnam.
Chinese ambassador to Vietnam, Qi Jianguo, said trade turnover this year between the two countries stood at $3.7 billion as of now. The ambassador noted that the statistic is a firm foundation for reaching the targeted $10 billion mark by 2010.
Chinese direct investment in Vietnam reached $4 billion, with 600 registered projects by July. Jianguo stressed that since the China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Early Harvest Program, China's imports from Vietnam have increased rapidly. The trade turnover increased from $32 million in 1991 to $2.4 billion in 2000.
Last year, trade turnover posted $4.6 billion when China became Vietnam's third-largest trade partner and importer. Vietnam is China's 27th largest business partner, the ambassador said.
The seminar was co-hosted by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, with more than 400 participants from the embassy and relevant government agencies. It provided comprehensive information about the Sino-Vietnamese trade dynamic and created opportunities for businesses on both sides to exchange information.
At the workshop, VCCI also launched a website for Vietnam and China in Vietnamese, Chinese and English. The web page will provide up-to-date information on the two nations' laws, policies, markets and prices. Some 570 businesses registered with the website, including nearly 200 Chinese businesses.
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