• Chinese, Nigerian presidents satisfied with bilateral ties • Pang Yuliang Acquired German Parchim Airport

NIGERIA - Presidential and National Assembly elections.
SUNDAY, APRIL 22
FRANCE - First round of presidential elections.
LONDON - London Marathon. Link: www.london-marathon.co.uk
MONDAY, APRIL 23
BRUSSELS - EU Foreign Ministers Meeting.
STRASBOURG - EU parliament plenary session (to April 26).
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Court-martial of Sgt. Lawrence G. Hutchins, a U.S. Marine suspected of being the ringleader in the kidnap and murder of an Iraqi grandfather.
LONDON - British singer George Michael scheduled for trial charged with being unfit to drive.
BERLIN - Lower-level bilateral talks between EU envoys on forging a new EU constitution expected to take place between April 23 and May 4.
TUESDAY, APRIL 24
BRUSSELS - Fraud Europe 2007, a conference dedicated to fraud detection, prevention & investigation/recovery across Europe from both a corporate and regulatory focus.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25
NEW YORK - 6th annual Tribeca Film Festival (to May 6). LINK: www.tribecafilmfestival.com
THURSDAY, APRIL 26
ANKARA - Deadline for candidates to register for Turkey's presidential election.
SATURDAY, APRIL 28
WEST INDIES - SPORT - CRICKET - World Cup Final.
SUNDAY, APRIL 29
MALI - Presidential elections.
MONDAY, APRIL 30
N.IRELAND - Northern Ireland smoking ban comes into effect.
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WORLD-DIARY/|LANGEN|AFA|CSA|LBY|RWSA|RWS|REULB|GNS|G|RBN|DIA|RNP|PGE|PMF|WORLD-DIARY/=2|LANGEN|AFA|CSA|LBY|RWSA|RWS|REULB|GNS|G|RBN|DIA|RNP|PGE|PMF|WORLD-DIARY/=3|LANGEN|AFA|CSA|LBY|RWSA|RWS|REULB|GNS|G|RBN|DIA|RNP|PGE|PMF|WORLD-DIARY/=4|LANGEN|AFA|CSA|LBY|RWSA|RWS|REULB|GNS|G|RBN|DIA|RNP|PGE|PMF|WORLD-DIARY/=5|LANGEN|AFA|CSA|LBY|RWSA|RWS|REULB|GNS|G|RBN|DIA|RNP|PGE|PMF|WORLD-DIARY/=6|LANGEN|AFA|CSA|LBY|RWSA|RWS|REULB|GNS|G|RBN|DIA|RNP|PGE|PMF|chained
Document LBA0000020070205e3250006g
3rd Ld-Writethru-China Focus: Nine kidnapped Chinese workers safely released in Nigeria
391 words

4 February 2007

Xinhua News Agency

XNEWS

English

(c) Copyright 2007 Xinhua News Agency
BEIJING, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Nine Chinese oil workers who were kidnapped last week by an armed group in Nigeria, were released safely on Sunday morning, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The nine were set free at 6:35 a.m. (Beijing time) following 11 days of tough diplomatic efforts, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement.
The released workers will return to China soon, she added.
A Chinese oil company compound was attacked by an unidentified armed group in southern Nigeria on Jan. 25. Nine workers were kidnapped and the others moved to a safe place.
The Chinese government showed deep concern about the workers and demanded relevant departments investigate the case and go all out to rescue the kidnapped workers, said Jiang.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry, together with the Ministry of Commerce and Chinese diplomatic missions in Nigeria and elsewhere, had worked with the Chinese company to carry out the rescue work, according to Jiang.
The Chinese government also asked for evaluation of security conditions and precaution measures to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals, she said.
"We extend our sincere greetings to the nine workers, and express our appreciation of the assistance from the Nigerian government and other sides for the rescue work," she said.
The attack happened four days after five Chinese telecom workers who had been kidnapped in Nigeria returned to China. They were captured by unidentified armed men on Jan. 5 in the southern Nigerian state of Rivers and released 13 days later on Jan. 17.
A spate of attacks and kidnappings on foreign companies and workers have occurred in Nigeria, the largest oil producer in Africa and the sixth largest oil exporter in the world with a daily output of 2.5 million barrels.
"We condemn the recent attacks and kidnappings and demand an end of such actions," Jiang said.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson also called for the overseas Chinese companies and nationals to further enhance their awareness of safety and strengthen security measures to ensure their safety.
Also on Sunday, an armed group of Nigeria which had kidnapped 24 Filipino seamen, called "the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta", warned that they would continue to hold the hostages until all their demands are met by the Nigerian government.
Document XNEWS00020070205e324000v8
2nd LD: Nine kidnapped Chinese workers safely released in Nigeria
294 words

4 February 2007

Xinhua News Agency

XNEWS

English

(c) Copyright 2007 Xinhua News Agency
BEIJING, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Nine Chinese oil workers who were kidnapped last week by an armed group in Nigeria, were released safely on Sunday morning, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The nine were set free at 6:35 a.m. (Beijing time) following 11 days of tough diplomatic efforts, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement.
The released workers will return to China soon, she added.
A Chinese oil company compound was attacked by an unidentified armed group in southern Nigeria on Jan. 25. Nine workers were kidnapped and the others moved to a safe place.
The Chinese government showed deep concern about the workers and demanded relevant departments investigate the case and go all out to rescue the kidnapped workers, said Jiang.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry, together with the Ministry of Commerce and Chinese diplomatic missions in Nigeria and elsewhere, had worked with the Chinese company to carry out the rescue work, according to Jiang.
The Chinese government also asked for evaluation of security conditions and precaution measures to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals, she said.
"We extend our sincere greetings to the nine workers, and express our appreciation of the assistance from the Nigerian government and other sides for the rescue work," she said.
The attack happened four days after five Chinese telecom workers who had been kidnapped in Nigeria returned to China. A spate of attacks and kidnappings on foreign companies and workers have occurred in Nigeria, the largest oil producer in Africa and the sixth largest oil exporter in the world with a daily output of 2.5 million barrels.
"We condemn the recent attacks and kidnappings and demand an end of such actions," Jiang said.
Document XNEWS00020070205e324000v5
Nine Chinese oil workers rescued in Nigeria
503 words

4 February 2007

The Press Trust of India Limited

PRTRIN

English

(c) 2007 Asia Pulse Pty Limited.
Beijing, Feb 4 (PTI) Nine Chinese oil workers who were abducted in Nigeria last month were rescued safely, the government announced here today while asking Chinese citizens in Africa to strengthen their security measures.
Announcing this, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the nine were rescued safely and would return to China soon.
The announcement came as Chinese President Hu Jintao is currently touring eight African countries to enhance Beijing's influence in the continent and secure more oil and mineral resources for the fast growing economy.
While thanking the Nigerian government for its help, the ministry called for cessation of all acts of violence targeting Chinese nationals working in African nations.
The statement urged the Chinese enterprises and personnel to further improve their safety awareness of risk and strengthen preventive measures to ensure their safety.
Earlier, on Thursday, Chinese officials expressed serious concern over the growing number of attacks on Chinese nationals.
On Thursday, China confirmed that one of its nationals was killed and another injured in an armed attack in Kenya.
According to China's Ministry of Commerce, the government is closely following Kenya's investigation into the murder of the Chinese engineer who was shot dead in the port city of Mombasa.
The ministry will coordinate with the Chinese embassy in Kenya which is taking all necessary actions to protect the security of Chinese personnel there, the ministry said.
On February one, engineers from a Chinese company working on a road-building project outside Mombasa were robbed by gunmen, with one killed and another wounded during the attack. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the Chinese government is very concerned about the case and the ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Kenya have made representations to the Kenyan Embassy in Beijing and the Kenyan Foreign Ministry on the safety of Chinese nationals.
"We have asked Kenyan to make a speedy and thorough investigation, arrest the criminals and take concrete and effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens," she said as Chinese President Hu has completed his state visits to Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan and Zambia and is expected to reach Namibia tomorrow before visiting, South Africa, Mozambique and the Seychelles.
In January, five Chinese telecom workers were kidnapped in Nigeria. However, they were released after being held hostage for 13 days.
They were captured by unidentified armed men on January five in the southern Nigerian state of Rivers and released 13 days later on January 17.
It is not clear if any ransom was paid for the release of the five Chinese telecom workers.
China's trade with the African countries zoomed 40 per cent last year to 55.5 billion US dollars. An increasing number of Chinese companies will consider Africa as the destination of their investment, mainly due to the Chinese government's push to engage resource-rich African nations and Beijing's favourable trade policies to encourage Chinese enterprises to start business in Africa.
Document PRTRIN0020070205e3240006f
Attacks on Chinese citizens growing in Africa
516 words

4 February 2007

The Press Trust of India Limited

PRTRIN

English

(c) 2007 Asia Pulse Pty Limited.
Beijing, Feb 4 (PTI) Amid Chinese President Hu Jintao's high-profile African tour, China is increasingly worried over the growing number of attacks and kidnappings on its citizens in Africa.
The latest violent attack on Chinese nationals has been reported from Kenya where one engineer was killed and another wounded in an armed attack.
According to China's Ministry of Commerce, the Chinese government is closely following Kenya's investigation into the murder the Chinese engineer who was shot to death in the port city of Mombasa.
The ministry will coordinate with the Chinese embassy in Kenya which is taking all necessary actions to protect the security of Chinese personnel there, the ministry said in a statement.
On February one, engineers from a Chinese company working on a road-building project outside Mombasa were robbed by gunmen, with one killed and another wounded during the attack.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has also issued a strong statement, saying that China has asked Kenya to ensure the safety of Chinese people working in the country.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the Chinese government is very concerned about the case and the ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Kenya have made representations to the Kenyan Embassy in Beijing and the Kenyan Foreign Ministry on the safety of Chinese nationals.
"We have asked Kenyan to make a speedy and thorough investigation, arrest the criminals and take concrete and effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens," Jiang said as Chinese President Hu Jintao completed his state visits to Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan and Zambia and is expected to reach Namibia tomorrow before visiting, South Africa, Mozambique and the Seychelles. Meanwhile, there has been apparently no progress in the kidnapping of nine Chinese oil workers in Nigeria, who have been held hostage since January 25.
Jiang said China is doing everything it can to secure the release of the nine Chinese oil workers who have been held hostage by an armed group in Nigeria.
The attack came four days after five Chinese telecom workers returned home after being held hostage in Nigeria. They were captured by unidentified armed men on January five in the southern Nigerian state of Rivers and released 13 days later on January 17.
It is not clear if any ransom was paid for the release of the five Chinese telecom workers.
Many Chinese traders and others have been attacked and killed in South Africa last year.
China's trade with the African countries zoomed 40 per cent last year to 55.5 billion US dollars. An increasing number of Chinese companies will consider Africa as the destination of their investment, mainly due to the Chinese government's push to engage resource-rich African nations and Beijing's favourable trade policies to encourage Chinese enterprises to start business in Africa.
The total of China's investment in Africa has reached 6.27 billion U.S. Dollars by the end of 2005 and it has been channelled to the fields such as natural resources, infrastructure, architecture, textile, transportation and power.
Document PRTRIN0020070205e3240005w

Chinese FM spokesman says nine kidnapped workers released in Nigeria
416 words

4 February 2007

05:48 AM

BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific

BBCAPP

English

(c) 2007 The British Broadcasting Corporation. All Rights Reserved. No material may be reproduced except with the express permission of The British Broadcasting Corporation.
Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency)
Beijing, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) - Nine Chinese oil workers who were kidnapped last week by an armed group in Nigeria, were released safely on Sunday morning, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The nine were set free at 6:35 a.m. (Beijing time) following 11 days of tough diplomatic efforts, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement.
The released workers will return to China soon, she added.
A Chinese oil company compound was attacked by an unidentified armed group in southern Nigeria on Jan. 25. Nine workers were kidnapped and the others moved to a safe place.
The Chinese government showed deep concern about the workers and demanded relevant departments investigate the case and go all out to rescue the kidnapped workers, said Jiang.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry, together with the Ministry of Commerce and Chinese diplomatic missions in Nigeria and elsewhere, had worked with the Chinese company to carry out the rescue work, according to Jiang.
The Chinese government also asked for evaluation of security conditions and precaution measures to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals, she said.
"We extend our sincere greetings to the nine workers, and express our appreciation of the assistance from the Nigerian government and other sides for the rescue work," she said.
The attack happened four days after five Chinese telecom workers who had been kidnapped in Nigeria returned to China. They were captured by unidentified armed men on Jan. 5 in the southern Nigerian state of Rivers and released 13 days later on Jan. 17.
A spate of attacks and kidnappings on foreign companies and workers have occurred in Nigeria, the largest oil producer in Africa and the sixth largest oil exporter in the world with a daily output of 2.5 million barrels.
"We condemn the recent attacks and kidnappings and demand an end of such actions," Jiang said.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson also called for the overseas Chinese companies and nationals to further enhance their awareness of safety and strengthen security measures to ensure their safety.
Also on Sunday, an armed group of Nigeria which had kidnapped 24 Filipino seamen, called "the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta," warned that they would continue to hold the hostages until all their demands are met by the Nigerian government.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 0956 gmt 4 Feb 07
a5ca6e7b
Document BBCAPP0020070204e324000xe

Kidnapped Chinese oil workers in Nigeria released unhurt
266 words

4 February 2007

AFX Asia

AFXASI

English

(c) 2007, AFX Asia. All rights reserved.
LAGOS (AFX) - Nine Chinese oil workers kidnapped last month in the restive southern Nigerian state of Bayelsa were freed early today, a senior government official involved in the deal said.
"The men were released unhurt early this morning to the government and they have been handed over to their company," the secretary to the Bayelsa government, Godknows Boladei Igali, told Agence France-Presse.
The Chinese foreign ministry had also earlier announced their release.
"After 11 days of complex efforts, the nine Chinese employees who had been kidnapped were freed safe and well at 6:30 am Beijing time," (2230 GMT Saturday)," said a statement posted on the ministry's website.
"We thank the Nigerian government and other concerned parties who lent their aid," it added.
Igali, who headed the Bayelsa government team that negotiated the release of the hostages, neither gave details of the deal nor the group responsible for the abduction.
He did not also say if ransoms were paid to secure the freedom of the Chinese who were seized from the China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) on January 25 and taken to an unkown location.
The unidentified gunmen also raided the office and staff living quarters of the men and took an unspecified amount of cash, police and industry officials there said.
It was the second time in January that Chinese working in Africa's biggest oil-producing country had been seized.
Five Chinese telecoms workers were kidnapped on January 5. They were freed on January 17 and have since returned home.
joa/ss/rc
MMMM
Document AFXASI0020070204e324001b9

Nigeria confirms the release of nine Chinese workers
JOA

416 words

4 February 2007

04:08 AM

Agence France Presse

AFPR

English

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2007 All reproduction and presentation rights reserved.
LAGOS, Feb 4, 2007 (AFP) -
Nine Chinese oil workers kidnapped last month in the restive southern Nigerian state of Bayelsa were freed early Sunday, a senior government official involved in the deal told AFP.
"The men were released unhurt early this morning to the government and they have been handed over to their company," the secretary to the Bayelsa government, Godknows Boladei Igali, said.
The Chinese foreign ministry had earlier announced their release.
"After 11 days of complex efforts, the nine Chinese employees who had been kidnapped were freed safe and well at 6:30 am Beijing time," (2230 GMT Saturday)," said a statement posted on the ministry's website.
"We thank the Nigerian government and other concerned parties who lent their aid," it added.
Igali, who headed the Bayelsa government team that negotiated the release of the hostages, neither gave details of the deal nor the group responsible for the abduction.
He did not also say if ransoms were paid to secure the freedom of the Chinese who were seized from the China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) on January 25 and taken to an unkown location.
The unidentified gunmen also raided the office and staff living quarters of the men and took an unspecified amount of cash, police and industry officials there said.
It was the second time in January that Chinese working in Africa's biggest oil-producing country had been seized.
Five Chinese telecoms workers were kidnapped on January 5. They were freed on January 17 and have since returned home.
Beijing has been aggressively courting African countries such as Nigeria, which is the continent's biggest oil producer, in an effort to deepen economic ties, and President Hu Jintao is currently in the middle of an eight-nation African tour.
Many of the abductions of foreign workers are blamed on groups campaigning for a larger share in oil revenues.
Last year separatists in the oil-rich Niger Delta region kidnapped more than 60 foreigners, mostly in the oil sector, as well as killing 37 Nigerian soldiers and dozens of local oil workers.
Two Italians and one Lebanese have been held since December 7 by the region's most high profile separatist group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta.
Twenty four Filipinos seized on a cargo vessel and an American and a Briton abducted from their car in the region's oil capital Port Harcourt are also still missing.
joa/ss
Document AFPR000020070204e324004jy

Kidnappers free nine Chinese oil workers in Nigeria
FRB

311 words

4 February 2007

03:22 AM

Agence France Presse

AFPR

English

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2007 All reproduction and presentation rights reserved.
BEIJING, Feb 4, 2007 (AFP) -
Nine Chinese oil workers kidnapped on January 25 by an armed group in Nigeria were released early Sunday, the Chinese foreign ministry said.
"After 11 days of complex efforts, the nine Chinese employees who had been kidnapped were freed safe and well at 6:30 am Beijing time," (2230 GMT Saturday)," said a statement posted on the ministry's website.
It did not give any details on the circumstances of the release.
"We thank the Nigerian government and other concerned parties who lent their aid," it added.
"We condemn the recent series of kidnappings and attacks against Chinese personnel and urge a halt to actions targeting those personnel."
The Chinese workers, identified as employees of China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), were abducted by gunmen in the southern Nigerian oil state of Bayelsa.
The gunmen also raided the CNPC office and staff living quarters and stole an unspecified amount of cash, police and industry officials there said.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
It was the second time in January that Chinese working in Africa's biggest oil-producing country have been seized.
Five Chinese telecoms workers were kidnapped on January 5. They were freed on January 17 and have since returned home.
Many of the abductions of foreign workers are blamed on groups campaigning for a larger share in oil revenues.
Last year separatists in the oil-rich delta region kidnapped more than 60 foreigners, mostly in the oil sector, as well as killing 37 Nigerian soldiers and dozens of local oil workers.
Beijing has been aggressively courting African countries such as Nigeria, which is the continent's biggest oil producer, in an effort to deepen economic ties, and President Hu Jintao is currently in the middle of an eight-nation African tour.
frb/km
Document AFPR000020070204e32400463

Korea must overcome low birthrate, economic bipolarization: Attali
1,686 words

3 February 2007

Korea.net news

KORNET

English

Copyright 2007. Korean Overseas Information Service Government Information Agency. All rights reserved.
Korea's future depends on how to solve its low birthrate, Jacques Attali, president of PlanNet Finance and renowned futurologist from France, said at the global forum and called for nationwide effort to resolve the issue.
At the Vision 2030 Global Forum on Thursday (Feb.1), Attali pointed out that the low fertility rate followed by demographic and economic bipolarization are serious issues to be addressed if Korea wishes to maintain its status as one of 10 major nations in the world by 2030.
He also stressed the importance of human resources and called for more efforts toward education, especially that of high school.
“Countries at the frontier are those who have the necessary technology, can manage social mobility and are open enough to adopt foreign cultures and people, and those places with financial power,” he said and continued that a country must led people away from poverty to realize economic growth and equal opportunities to become an elite if they try hard enough.
In his future prospects for the world, he predicted that global tasks would be shouldered not by a single super power like the United States but by 11 nations including China, India, Brazil, Russia, Nigeria, and Korea. However, to truly reach its potential, Attali said a country should first heighten its technology and productivity level, eliminate bureaucracy and establish social justice within.
Complimenting Korea for its economic feat over the past 3-4 years which exceeded the average growth rate of European nations, he pointed out three unique challenges the country is facing: the threat from North Korea, a rapidly aging population and social disharmony.
On the problem of population aging and declining birthrate, he underlined the need to encourage more women to get a job and remove workplace obstacles hindering women from bearing children.
He also brought in new suggestions: “Koreans will have to open themselves to new ideas and accept that immigration can be an answer to the population shortage and that cultural diversity can be an enriching actor for the country instead of posing a threat to its identity.”
As for social harmony, Attali said Korea could turn toward a European social model to reach a more egalitarian stage of prosperity and better quality of life as it has already learned much from the success of the American and Japanese models.
A sudden collapse of North Korea or conflict between the North and South would be a catastrophe for Korea's prosperity, but if Seoul reaches peaceful reunification, the Korean Peninsula will fully bloom into a gateway for North East Asia, he said.
To resolve all the challenges mentioned above and establish a higher form of democracy, Korea could use more social spending, which is currently very low relative to other OECD countries.
The following is a summary of Attali's interview with state-run KTV:
How would you evaluate the Vision 2030 Global Forum in Korea?
I believe it is a good opportunity to better understand Korea's future. We may think 2030 is a long distant future, but it is not. Think of 1984, which is 23 years ago from now. At the time, we had neither cell phones nor Internet, the Soviet Union was still alive and AIDS wasn't such a widespread problem. Only 50 percent of the world nations were democratic and Korea was not included. My point is that you can't just guess the future simply through the present trend.
The latest course is to reflect on Korea's future and brace up for possible obstacles ahead. Any advice to that?
Globalization is only at the beginning, as all nations except North Korea are moving toward a market economy. While the world is moving toward one world and one market we also see challenges and difficulties that also lie ahead. Inequality intensifies and big changes are made in people's lives. There are also organizations that try to resist those changes through political or military means.
The problem is that democracy is spreading slower than the market. Countries in Latin America and Eastern Europe may be coming to grips with the concept, but it would take a while for countries to fully make new changes as it would have to touch on related systems; legal rights, transparency of the system and other general elements within the society.
The world market is another factor that spoils the spread of democracy for it will take over all the decisions, even ones that should be made by a government. The only way to form a single global market is for the regional democracy to move up to a global level. There are already signs of continent-level globalization blossoming in Europe and I see similar changes in Asian democracy which is again, well linked to Korea's democracy.
Korea is faced with high economic competition ahead with countries like the BRICs and most Koreans are yet to understand the implications of a low birth rate. Tell us some of successful examples of how to overcome a low fertility rate.
First I'd like to make clear that Korea is a country with many strong points. It is a nation leading in fields of technology, automobiles, IT and video, which are all infrastructure for establishing a future city. Korea maintains high quality city life and half the population is living in the city and that's a big asset. BRIC nations can be either a partner or competitor. It's not all bad news as they provide a bigger market for high- quality Korean goods.
One can come up with new ideas through competition and become more competitive. It's important one brings in new ideas, technology and inspiration from abroad by opening up the borders like in Europe. Also bringing in new ideas is also linked with brining in new people from abroad, which is again linked with the population problem in Korea.
I believe Korea's declining fertility rate is “catastrophic” as the current fertility rate remains at one child per woman. It's almost a matter of survival for the country. Such comes from selfishness and shortsightedness toward the future. The increase of the elderly population means a high dependence rate toward society, meaning a decline of quality of life overall for the whole country.
There are two ways to resolve the crisis. One is to take the example of the U.S. and open up the border with an effective immigration policy to make up for the declining fertility rate and so that new ideas could immigrate into Korea as well. It's something I recommend, though it may not be easy given the country's cultural sentiment and other conditions.
Another alternative goes to sound family policy. In the case of Europe, we even have detailed statistics for how much investment would result into an increased fertility rate. So it all comes down to investment. There should be a kind of residential fee given in the form of subsidies for a young couple to get married, a financial incentive for workingwomen and a system for baby sitters and nurses.
Bipolarization is another serious problem for Korea's future. The present government's policy to make an adequate distribution through tax policy is meeting a serious backlash. What do you say to this?
A kind of global policy is required. First, people should pay the tax with the understanding that this is for the good of the society in general. Bipolarization on the other hand, cannot be solved through even distribution. Education, labor-management policy and jobs must be provided. It's meritocracy in other words. We have to present a vision that the low-income class can join the high-income class if they work hard enough.
One thing is clear. Economic growth alone cannot resolve bipolarization. In fact no single factor can solve the issue. All social factors must come together, with education placed at its core. Banks could play the role in the form of micro credit; providing small loans to the poor.
What are the main factors needed for Korea's sustainable growth and how should we be prepared for it?
There are many countries similar in size to Korea. At the end, it all comes down to competition between effective social systems. This again translates into nurturing able personnel because they will have to compete with overseas brains. What worries me is the area of research and education in Korea, which in my opinion lags behind compared to overseas counterparts. More effort must be put in that sector as well as new ideas for products. However Korea's speed of technological development is awesome and should be kept up.
As a futurologist you have made predictions of the future world trends, mentioned capitalism which would go through three steps of generalization and included Korea in the same content.
From 20-30 years from now, there will be a new world order to replace the centralized system of the U.S. as there is no need to gather around a certain place. It would be a transition in which 11 countries, including four BRIC nations, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Canada Nigeria, Mexico and other African nations form a multi-polar system around the world.
The rapid growth of the market will give birth to hyper-empire in which the private market would go as far as to take over the government's role. A nation will remain as a kind of symbol and politician's influence will be greatly weakened. The power of the market will be enhanced greatly and effectively, but it will also be a tough time for democracy to bloom. Conflicts may arise as wealth gets concentrated to certain areas.
Provide us with final advice for Vision 2030.
The answer is simple. Who will be there in the year 2030? The Children of today and tomorrow, of course. Priority goes to them, so we should provide the best environment for education to them.
Document KORNET0020070204e32300004

UK Arabic paper views China's business, troop deployment in Africa
728 words

3 February 2007

02:06 PM

BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific

BBCAPP

English

(c) 2007 The British Broadcasting Corporation. All Rights Reserved. No material may be reproduced except with the express permission of The British Broadcasting Corporation.
Excerpt from report by London-based newspaper Al-Hayat on 3 February
[Article by Tunisian writer Tawfiq al-Midini: "Gintao in Africa to bolster China's influence and tip the power balances"]
[Passage omitted on Chinese President Hu Jintao's current African tour]
Since the 1883 Berlin conference, billed by Belgian King Leopold II as "the conference of splitting the African cake", the West has taken it for granted that it enjoys full rights in the area south of the Great African Sahara. Centuries of struggle to end colonialist rule and racial discrimination policies have not changed this situation much. But Western influence in Africa is now facing a clear challenge from China which yearns to place its hands on the plentiful African reserves of metals and natural resources, just as the West does.
At the height of the international conflict during the Cold War over Africa between the Western Camp, headed by the United States, and the Eastern Camp under the Soviet Union, the role of Communist China in Africa was reined in because of support by Washington and its satellite African states for Nationalist China (present-day Taiwan). With the start of the 1970s, China sought to project itself to the peoples of the Third World as an important link in the struggle against imperialism and hegemony, and as a model for popular liberation movements in asserting national identity and independence.
China gained a great deal of support in various parts of the continent, taking care to deal with its nations with a great deal of seriousness and seeking to capitalize in this on anti-imperialist feelings.
Chinese policy seeks to accomplish three objectives. These are securing supplies of energy and minerals, reducing Taiwanese influence in the continent (where there are six of the 26 nations maintaining full diplomatic ties with Taiwan), and bolstering China's mounting global influence.
[Passages omitted on trade figures and the Chinese capitalization on Mugabe's dispute with the West in 2002]
But China's presence in African has become a worry for the West because this presence is no longer confined to buying raw materials or getting petroleum supplies. Chinese companies have entered the arena of international competition with Western companies, whether in medical supplies and pharmaceuticals or in communications. Zimbabwe's cellular phone companies favoured a Chinese company over a Western company. For cobalt and copper, China looks to the Democratic Republic of Congo. It looks to South Africa for iron ore, minerals and platinum. Meanwhile Gabon, Cameroon, and Congo Brazzaville ensure timber wood, while the central and Western African nations provide cotton for Chinese factories. Around 80,000 Chinese live in Africa, selling shoes, TV sets and other commodities.
China gets around 30 per cent of its crude oil imports from Africa, something which perhaps puts it on a collision course with the interests of the United States which also wants to reduce its dependence on Middle East petroleum and which sees African oil as an alternative, especially in Nigeria, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, which are strategic and oil-rich areas.
[Passages omitted on Chinese oil dealings with Nigeria, Kenya, and Angola]
Another beneficiary is Sudan, which supplies China, through Chinese investments, with around 7 per cent of its total imports. China's CNPC owns 40 per cent of the Greater Nile Petroleum Company and has invested $3 billion in establishing refineries and building pipelines. Furthermore, 4,000 soldiers from the Chinese People's Liberation Army are deployed in South Sudan to guard an oil pipeline.
Experts believe the quick evolution of Chinese-African relations is due to Peking's adherence to the five principles of peaceful coexistence which include respect for the political and economic policy options that suit the national calculations and interests of the African nations, non-intervention in their internal affairs, efficient implementation of projects, and not paying too much attention to the financial transparency accentuated by the United States,
China has succeeded within the span of a single decade in changing the balances of power in the region. It has displaced the United States and Britain to third and fourth place and is even competing with France for first place as the continent's principal partner on the economic and trade domains.
Source: Al-Hayat, London, in Arabic 3 Feb 07
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Financial Mail: Yin and yang.
MARTYN DAVIES

627 words

2 February 2007

Financial Mail

AIWFIM

18

English

The Financial Times Limited. Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. All material subject to copyright. Financial Mail (c) 2007 All rights reserved
Yin and yang Delayed reform as a result of Chinese attention and investment should not result in China being branded Africa's latest coloniser This week, China's President Hu Jintao will (yet again) visit Africa, including SA. He has visited 17 African states over the past 10 months more than any other head of state. China has rapidly become the most assertive investor nation in Africa.
There are more than 800 Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Africa. They have a presence in practically all African economies, but China's largest investments are in oil-rich Nigeria, Sudan and Angola. The latter is China's largest supplier of oil. According to the Chinese government, its enterprises have invested US$6,27bn in Africa. Chinese SOE construction and telecom firms are also expanding their footprint across the region and are gaining market traction in all economies they enter. Following them are pharmaceutical, automotive and engineering equipment firms. Beijing announced in November it had established a US$5bn African investment fund, which will fuel the expansion of these sectors. But it is not just Chinese SOEs that are changing Africa's economic landscape. Chinese entrepreneurs are moving to Africa en masse to take advantage of less competitive markets and grasp opportunities for business. A local Chinese leader recently told me that there are now 300000 Chinese in SA. Rumour has it that up to 3m are to move to Angola in the coming years. Family and regional network ties are driving this migration of private Chinese capital. Beijing has no influence over this trend but it may result in an even greater developmental impact for the continent. Small Chinese firms have become integral to the region's supply chains. Emboldened by the attention and financial gains from China, African states may be less inclined to pursue political reform. The Chavez effect is taking hold in Africa: resource nationalism, delayed political reform and increased political assertiveness against traditional Western interests. In Africa we can label it the Dos Santos effect. It is unfortunate that the clash of interests over strategic energy assets between China and the West is likely to further entrench nondemocratic regimes in oil-rich African states, with neither doing enough to propagate political reform of these non- accountable governments. However, the criticism should not result in China being branded the continent's latest coloniser. Yet as China's presence and influence in Africa expand, it will find it increasingly difficult to stay out of domestic political issues. The recent elections in Zambia, where the opposition leader whipped up anti- Chinese sentiment, portend the use of the China card in domestic African politics. China is even having an impact on economic policymaking in SA. Disagreements on trade policy due to intense competition from China are fuelling disputes between government and Cosatu. Import quotas on Chinese textiles and garments, forced on government by labour, are a case in point. Africa's geostrategic relationship is shifting away from the West towards the East and focusing on China. China's commercial engagement with Africa is challenging the vested interests of the former colonial powers. The burgeoning relationship holds out a great deal of opportunity for Africa. China's engagement strategy towards Africa is a long-term one. But Africa's strategy towards China is ad hoc and fragmented. Europe regards Africa as a developmental burden, while China sees Africa as a commercial opportunity. The strategies of engagement are different but the outcomes will be the same unless African governments and private sectors learn to better engage China and channel its attention in the continent towards development, and not commercial exploitation. Davies is director of the Centre for Chinese Studies at Stellenbosch University
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