ATHENS, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) — Greek President Karolos Papoulias said here Thursday that the Greek government is willing to provide any assistance it can for the Beijing Olympic Games and wishes the games great success.

    He said that the first direct flight from Beijing to Athens by Air China arrived Thursday and the new connection would promote cooperation in the areas of the Olympic Games, tourism and culture between the two countries.

    Papoulias made the remarks while receiving the credential letters from China’s new ambassador to Greece, Luo Linquan.

    He also met the chairman of the board of Air China, Li Jiaxiang, congratulating him on the opening of the direct flight between Beijing and Athens.

    PYONGYANG, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) — Choe Tae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Worker’s Party of Korea (WPK) of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), met with Chen Quanguo, deputy secretary of the Henan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) here Thursday.

    ”The traditional friendship between the DPRK and China has a long history and is a valuable legacy from leaders of previous generations,” said Choe.

    Choe said the traditional DPRK-China friendship has a strong vitality and that bilateral relations are developing in an all-round way under the guidance of key consensus reached between top leaders of the two countries.

    He also congratulated the CPC on convening the 17th National Congress.

    Chen spoke highly of the friendship between the two nations, saying China is willing to work with the DPRK to further deepen bilateral relations and make efforts to promote regional peace and prosperity.

    Invited by the WPK, Chen arrived in Pyongyang Tuesday for a five-day visit.

    BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) — Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan on Thursday met with a group of Japanese senior reporters, calling on joint efforts from both countries to properly settle sensitive issues and push forward China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial ties.

    Hailing the achievements in bilateral relations over the past 35 years, Tang said the two countries are confronted with important opportunities to improve and enhance their relationship.

    China is ready to make joint efforts with various circles of Japan to boost bilateral exchanges, increase trust, and handle important and sensitive issues in an appropriate way, the state councilor said.

    Shima Osamu, former editor-in-chief of the Japanese Daily Yomiuri and head of the Japanese delegation, said he was glad to see the great progress of Japan-China relations in the past 35 years as well as China’s achievements in its reform and opening-up.

    The Japanese senior reporters vowed to make concerted efforts with their Chinese counterparts to promote even closer bilateral ties.

    These Japanese reporters had accompanied former Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei to visit China in 1972 and witnessed the normalization of Japan-China diplomatic ties.

    YANGON, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) — China and Myanmar signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) here Thursday on enhancement of bilateral cooperation in the sector of science and technology.

    The MoU between the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and the Myanmar Ministry of Science and Technology was inked by Executive Vice-President of the CAST Deng Nan and the Myanmar Minister U Thaung on behalf of respective sides.

    Under the MoU, the two sides will strengthen cooperation in academic exchange in science and technology as well as personnel exchange.

    Before the signing ceremony, Deng and U Thaung held discussions over the two countries’ science and technology cooperation with both sides holding that the endorsement of the MoU will be beneficial to the enhancement of the exchange and cooperation between the two countries in science and technology.

    The two sides also considered that the enhancement of bilateral cooperation in science and technology would also push the development of the two countries’ socio-economy.

    Deng arrived here earlier on Thursday on a six-day visit to Myanmar.     

    BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) — China’s Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League (TSL) said here Thursday that it would work hard to strengthen relations and promote understanding across the Taiwan Strait.

    ”As a party made up of Taiwan people on the mainland, many members have relatives and friends on the other side of the Strait. We shall take the advantage to promote understanding and mutual trust across the Strait,” said Lin Wenyi, chairwoman of the TSL Central Committee, here Thursday at the ongoing TSL 8th all-league congress.

    ”In the future, we shall keep close contacts with Taiwan compatriots, no matter whether they are permanently or temporarily living on the mainland. We shall listen to them and help get their voices heard,” she said.

    In the past five years, the TSL, one of China’s eight democratic parties, has received 13,000 visitors in 1,462 groups from Taiwan and organized 189 people from the mainland to visit Taiwan, Lin said in her report on the party’s work.

    Meanwhile, the party contributed to attracting 387 million yuan (51.6 million U.S. dollars) of investment from Taiwan in 63 projects on the mainland, she said.

    ”We also tried our best to help Taiwan compatriots on the mainland, such as tourists, businessmen and students, to solve problems,” she said, adding that it has lobbied the relevant administrations to allow Taiwan graduates to work on the mainland airline companies.

    The TSL was founded in Hong Kong on Nov. 12, 1947 by a number of Taiwan personages engaged in patriotic campaigns after the Feb.28 Uprising of the Taiwan people that year. Now it has branches in13 provinces and municipalities with a membership of over 2,100.

    As one of the political parties to participate in state affairs, the TSL also played its role as advisor and supervisor to the ruling party, Lin said.

    In the past five years TSL officials attended 1,396 seminars and meetings hosted by the CPC and governments at all levels and worked out 573 research reports on issues such as restructuring of state-owned enterprises in northeast China, she said.

    The party members also submitted 2,431 proposals to the National Committee of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and its local branches.

    At its 8th all-league congress, opened here Wednesday, the TSL will select its new league central committee and discuss a draft amendment to the TCL’s Constitution.

    HARARE, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) — The Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Mozambique was established Wednesday in the Mozambican capital of Maputo, officials of the Chinese embassy in Maputo told Xinhua Thursday.

    The chamber aims to help Chinese companies promote their businesses in Mozambique and boost exchanges and cooperation.

    Chinese Ambassador to Mozambique Tian Guangfeng, who attended a ceremony to launch the chamber, expressed his hope that the chamber will strive to provide Chinese businesses with consulting services on policies, regulations and market information in the southeastern African country.

    The Chinese government has taken a slew of measures to encourage Chinese investment in Mozambique, Tian said, adding he hoped the chamber would serve as a link between Chinese and Mozambican businesses and their cooperation.