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China to support four billion dolla
- Subject: China to support four billion dolla
- From: darnott@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 17:09:00
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[This and other reports of Zhu's visit describe a very warm relationship
between China and Thailand: "In less than two days ... our premier has stated
on many occasions that relations between China and Thailand are very
friendly,"
Chinese ministry of foreign affairs spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told reporters
at a press conference Sunday. "The Chinese leader has used the phrase that
Chinese
and Thai people are from one single family ... and this visit in their eyes
is just like a
family visit to a relative." Is there an implied message to Burma here?
It would be interesting to know which rail route is being discussed: -- the
one from
Kunming-Jinghong-Vientiane-Bangkok or Kunming-Jinghong-Burma-Laos
(bypassing Vientiane)-Bangkok. Presumably ADB funding would not be available
for any section passing through Burma, despite ADB president Tadao Chino's
statement
that he is "encouraged by political developments in Burma", in particular
the "strengthening
of the dialogue between the government and opposition leaders" (12 May,
Australian
Broadcasting Corporation).
Does anyone have any more info or thoughts on all this? -- DA]
Agence France Presse
May 20, 2001, Sunday 5:20 AM, Eastern Time
China to support four billion dollar rail link with Thailand: report
DATELINE: BANGKOK, May 20
Beijing will underwrite the construction of a four billion dollar railway
linking Thailand and China, Thai
Defense Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said in a report Sunday.
Following a meeting with visiting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, Chavalit told
the Thai News Agency that
China would finance the high-speed train link, boosting employment in
Thailand, which is still suffering
the effects of the 1997-98 financial crisis.
"This project will create a lot of jobs for Thai people," Chavalit said in
the report broadcast on a radio
news show.
Zhu, whom Chinese officials described as an "old friend" of Chavalit, met
with the Thai defense minister
during the second day of a four-day official visit to Thailand.
Chavalit did not elaborate on the rail project.
He added that his discussion with Zhu did not touch on relations with the
United States and said
Thailand had no problems with either country.
"As my private comment, I don't think the two countries will have problems
permanently," Chavalit said,
referring to tension between the US and China over a proposed US missile
defense shield and the
diplomatic row that erupted over the collision between a Chinese fighter
jet and a US spy plane last
month.
"We want to see our friends have ties and understand each other," he said.
In addition to Chavalit, who is a former prime minister, Zhu also met with
former Thai prime ministers
Anand Panyarachun and Chuan Leekpai in what Chinese officials described as
a "family visit to a
relative."
"In less than two days ... our premier has stated on many occasions that
relations between China and
Thailand are very friendly," Chinese ministry of foreign affairs
spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told reporters
at a press conference Sunday.
"The Chinese leader has used the phrase that Chinese and Thai people are
from one single family ... and
this visit in their eyes is just like a family visit to a relative."
Zhu also paid a courtesy call to the Thai parliament building where he met
House Speaker Uthai
Pimchaichon and President of the Senate Manoonkrit Roopkhachorn.
Uthai told reporters he and Zhu had discussed the problem of illicit
narcotics in the region.
"We're ready to cooperate with Thailand and Myanmar to jointly work against
the drug crimes in this
region," Zhang said, adding that China did not have a serious drug problem
and swiftly dealt with
traffickers by invoking the death penalty.
To further address the issue, China would like to host a meeting between
Thai, Lao and Myanmar
officials in Kunming, southwest China, she said.
The United Nations Drug Control Programme recently named China and India as
major sources of
precursor chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine drugs, which have
flooded the region in
recent years.
Zhu arrived at Bangkok's military airport Saturday and met privately with
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra before Thaksin and his wife held a banquet in Zhu's honor.
Zhu will be granted a royal audience with the revered Thai King Bhumibol
Adulyadej on Monday
evening at the royal seaside palace in Hua Hin, south of the Thai capital.
Thaksin plans to host a private dinner for Zhu at his mansion afterwards.
The Chinese delegation is scheduled to return to China on Tuesday after an
Asian tour which has taken
Zhu to Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal and the Maldives.
--=====================_6843874==_.ALT
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<html>
[This and other reports of Zhu's visit describe a very warm
relationship<br>
between China and Thailand: "In less than two days ... our premier
has stated <br>
on many occasions that relations between China and Thailand are very
friendly," <br>
Chinese ministry of foreign affairs spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told
reporters<br>
at a press conference Sunday. "The Chinese leader has used the
phrase that Chinese <br>
and Thai people are from one single family ... and this visit in their
eyes is just like a <br>
family visit to a relative." Is there an implied message to
Burma here? <br><br>
It would be interesting to know which rail route is being discussed: --
the one from <br>
Kunming-Jinghong-Vientiane-Bangkok or Kunming-Jinghong-Burma-Laos <br>
(bypassing Vientiane)-Bangkok. Presumably ADB funding would not be
available <br>
for any section passing through Burma, despite <font size=3>ADB
president Tadao Chino's statement <br>
that he is "encouraged by political developments in
Burma", in particular the "strengthening <br>
of the dialogue between the government and opposition leaders" (12
May, Australian <br>
Broadcasting Corporation). <br><br>
Does anyone have any more info or thoughts on all this? -- DA]<br><br>
<br>
</font>Agence France Presse <br>
May 20, 2001, Sunday 5:20 AM, Eastern Time <br><br>
China to support four billion dollar rail link with Thailand: report
<br><br>
DATELINE: BANGKOK, May 20 <br><br>
Beijing will underwrite the construction of a four billion dollar railway
linking Thailand and China, Thai<br>
Defense Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said in a report Sunday.
<br><br>
Following a meeting with visiting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, Chavalit
told the Thai News Agency that<br>
China would finance the high-speed train link, boosting employment in
Thailand, which is still suffering<br>
the effects of the 1997-98 financial crisis. <br><br>
"This project will create a lot of jobs for Thai people,"
Chavalit said in the report broadcast on a radio<br>
news show. <br><br>
Zhu, whom Chinese officials described as an "old friend" of
Chavalit, met with the Thai defense minister<br>
during the second day of a four-day official visit to Thailand.
<br><br>
Chavalit did not elaborate on the rail project. <br><br>
He added that his discussion with Zhu did not touch on relations with the
United States and said<br>
Thailand had no problems with either country. <br><br>
"As my private comment, I don't think the two countries will have
problems permanently," Chavalit said,<br>
referring to tension between the US and China over a proposed US missile
defense shield and the<br>
diplomatic row that erupted over the collision between a Chinese fighter
jet and a US spy plane last<br>
month. <br><br>
"We want to see our friends have ties and understand each
other," he said. <br><br>
In addition to Chavalit, who is a former prime minister, Zhu also met
with former Thai prime ministers<br>
Anand Panyarachun and Chuan Leekpai in what Chinese officials described
as a "family visit to a<br>
relative." <br><br>
"In less than two days ... our premier has stated on many occasions
that relations between China and<br>
Thailand are very friendly," Chinese ministry of foreign affairs
spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told reporters<br>
at a press conference Sunday. <br><br>
"The Chinese leader has used the phrase that Chinese and Thai people
are from one single family ... and<br>
this visit in their eyes is just like a family visit to a relative."
<br><br>
Zhu also paid a courtesy call to the Thai parliament building where he
met House Speaker Uthai<br>
Pimchaichon and President of the Senate Manoonkrit Roopkhachorn.
<br><br>
Uthai told reporters he and Zhu had discussed the problem of illicit
narcotics in the region. <br><br>
"We're ready to cooperate with Thailand and Myanmar to jointly work
against the drug crimes in this<br>
region," Zhang said, adding that China did not have a serious drug
problem and swiftly dealt with<br>
traffickers by invoking the death penalty. <br><br>
To further address the issue, China would like to host a meeting between
Thai, Lao and Myanmar<br>
officials in Kunming, southwest China, she said. <br><br>
The United Nations Drug Control Programme recently named China and India
as major sources of<br>
precursor chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine drugs, which have
flooded the region in<br>
recent years. <br><br>
Zhu arrived at Bangkok's military airport Saturday and met privately with
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin<br>
Shinawatra before Thaksin and his wife held a banquet in Zhu's honor.
<br><br>
Zhu will be granted a royal audience with the revered Thai King Bhumibol
Adulyadej on Monday<br>
evening at the royal seaside palace in Hua Hin, south of the Thai
capital. <br><br>
Thaksin plans to host a private dinner for Zhu at his mansion afterwards.
<br><br>
The Chinese delegation is scheduled to return to China on Tuesday after
an Asian tour which has taken<br>
Zhu to Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal and the Maldives. <br>
</html>
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